Daniel Sereni, France 1. What is the cause of acute Low Back Pain (Backache)? Ninety percent of adults experience at least one episode of backache during their life. In most cases the lumbar pain is acute and resolves in less than one or two days. It may be provoked by an effort or an unusual and brisk movement; but it can also appear suddenly without evident reason. Pain can be intense with a sensation of burning aggravated by bending or walking. Acute Lumbar Pain is not the consequence of any anomaly of the vertebrae or of the vertebral disk. Pain is triggered by a sudden strain in the muscles and ligaments around the intervertebral disk. As the disk is richly innervated this situation results in an acute pain. 2. Is it necessary to visit a doctor? To have x-rays? Low back Pain may be very painful, but it does not mean that it is dangerous. In an adult in general good health the backache will resolve in a few hours or days. There is no need to visit a doctor; x -rays will not show anything relevant and should not be performed.  Yet there are some situations when a call to […]

Polypharmacy and deprescribing Polypharmacy is an increasing problem in a population, which gets older, is more obese and affected with more diabetes and subsequently cardiovascular problems (see earlier news item). In this short report polypharmacy is the excessive or unnessary use of medications. The polypill is one solution, predescribing is another one. Polypharmacy has several possible consequences: Adverse drug effects such as nausea, confusion, bleeding Drug-drug interactions , when a medication changes the effect of other medications taken together Medication nonadherence Deceased mobility and falls Increased health care use, including visits to a clinic, an emergency department or hospitalization Higher costs both out-of-pocket and for the community How can the risk of polypharmacy be decreased: Bring an up-to-date list of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications or take all medication bottles to each medical appointment and also report if you take dietary supplements, they may interact. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist before starting any over-the-counter medications or dietary supplements to be taken on a regular basis. When a new medication is recommended, ask the doctor or pharmacist how long you should expect to take it. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist if you are taking a medication longer than planned, to […]