Symptom Finder - Treatment of Lumbosacral Sprain
LUMBOSACRAL SPRAIN
1. Best rest and relaxation is prescribed for the first few days. Heavy lifting and stooping and bending should be avoided.
2. A firm mattress or bed-board (3 × 5 foot piece of plywood ½ inch thick) placed between the mattress and box springs is helpful.
3. Hot packs or a heating pad for 1 hour qid may also provide considerable relief.
4. A physiotherapist may be consulted for evaluation and treatment especially in persistent cases.
5. NSAIDs such as naproxen (Naprosyn) 500 mg bid–tid are prescribed at the outset. Other NSAIDs may be tried
6. A muscle relaxant such as, cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) 5–10 mg tid may be added. Other muscle relaxants may be substituted for cyclobenzaprine
7. Sometimes a short course of prednisone, beginning with 40–60 mg a day for 4–5 days and gradually tapering over the next week or two, will do the trick.
8. Once the patient begins to ambulate, a lumbosacral support should be provided.
9. Acetaminophen: 500–1,000 mg q4hrs PRN may be added for analgesia but narcotic analgesics should be avoided.
10. The patient should be educated by a physiotherapist on how to avoid a recurrence before returning to work
1. Best rest and relaxation is prescribed for the first few days. Heavy lifting and stooping and bending should be avoided.
2. A firm mattress or bed-board (3 × 5 foot piece of plywood ½ inch thick) placed between the mattress and box springs is helpful.
3. Hot packs or a heating pad for 1 hour qid may also provide considerable relief.
4. A physiotherapist may be consulted for evaluation and treatment especially in persistent cases.
5. NSAIDs such as naproxen (Naprosyn) 500 mg bid–tid are prescribed at the outset. Other NSAIDs may be tried
6. A muscle relaxant such as, cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) 5–10 mg tid may be added. Other muscle relaxants may be substituted for cyclobenzaprine
7. Sometimes a short course of prednisone, beginning with 40–60 mg a day for 4–5 days and gradually tapering over the next week or two, will do the trick.
8. Once the patient begins to ambulate, a lumbosacral support should be provided.
9. Acetaminophen: 500–1,000 mg q4hrs PRN may be added for analgesia but narcotic analgesics should be avoided.
10. The patient should be educated by a physiotherapist on how to avoid a recurrence before returning to work