From the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society
The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society released joint guidelines on diagnosing and treating low back pain in the October 2, 2007, issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. In 2006, ACP and APS convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to come up with recommendations for primary care physicians to diagnose and treat low back pain. The recommendations say that clinicians should not routinely order imaging or other diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CAT scans, and MRIs for patients with nonspecific low back pain. They should reserve these tests for patients who have severe or progressive neurologic deficits or suspected underlying conditions, such as cancer or infection.
