Sir, is it pure coincidence that the guidelines on early management
of persistent non specific back pain include as recommended treatment
options every modality represented by the panel members but, as no
interventionalist has been accepted onto the panel, no injection
treatment? What horrifying thought to even consider spinal fusions for
these patients. I only take comfort in the fact that non specific back
pain by definition means exclusion of specific contributing factors and as
such targeted injections for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes remain an
important part of pain practice. It is unfortunate that the guidelines
don't make this clear and as such they are misinformed, misleading and
should be withdrawn.
Competing interests:
pain specialist as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes injection therapy
Rapid Response:
NICE guidline on backpain is misleading
Sir, is it pure coincidence that the guidelines on early management
of persistent non specific back pain include as recommended treatment
options every modality represented by the panel members but, as no
interventionalist has been accepted onto the panel, no injection
treatment? What horrifying thought to even consider spinal fusions for
these patients. I only take comfort in the fact that non specific back
pain by definition means exclusion of specific contributing factors and as
such targeted injections for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes remain an
important part of pain practice. It is unfortunate that the guidelines
don't make this clear and as such they are misinformed, misleading and
should be withdrawn.
Competing interests:
pain specialist as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes injection therapy
Competing interests: No competing interests