Chronic pain
Initial management of pain due to osteoarthritisSonia (48 years old)
Sonia, a 48-year-old civil servant, comes to your clinic with acute severe low back pain that started while lifting heavy luggage a few days ago. She took painkillers, 3x paracetamol 1 g in the last 48 hours, which only temporarily alleviated her symptoms.
In her medical records, the following is noted:
- Similar episodes of acute low back pain (N=2), but less severe and resolving more rapidly
- Sedentary lifestyle, no physical activity
- Intense smoking (20 cigarettes/day)
- BMI: 29
- No chronic disease or other conditions
In addition to quitting smoking and reducing weight, she asks which non-pharmacologic options can be considered to reduce the pain.