Multidisciplinary treatment of chronic pain: long-term follow-up of low-back pain patients ★

Abstract

Patients (36) with low-back pain who were treated in a multidisciplinary pain center returned for 80 wk follow-up evaluations by the staff psychologist, physiatrist and physical therapist. Statistically significant gains were maintained in the reduction of prescription analgesics and on 4 measures of physical functioning: long-sitting-to-toe; straight-leg-raise; knee-to-chest and overall exercise performance. Despite verbal reports of continuing pain, most patients claimed they were coping much better with it, and they displayed a marked reduction in their utilization of medical resources for further pain treatment. A multidisciplinary approach can offer an effective means of treating low-back pain.