NSAIDs for Chronic Low Back Pain.

CLINICAL QUESTION

Are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) associated with greater pain relief than placebo, other drugs, and nondrug treatments for patients with chronic low back pain?

BOTTOM LINE

Compared with placebo, NSAIDs are associated with a small but significant improvement in pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain, although this difference became nonsignificant when studies with high risk for bias were excluded. The associated benefits were smaller than the minimal clinically important difference.