Practical guidelines for the treatment of chronic nonspecific low back pain and comorbid chronic insomnia: clinical observation

A clinical case of a patient with chronic nonspecific low back pain and comorbid chronic insomnia is described, and a modern approach to the management of this patient category is shown. So-called yellow flags - factors that contribute to the central sensitization of pain - lead to chronicity of LBP. In the presented clinical case we identified the most common "yellow flags”: insomnia, pain catastrophizing, restrictive ”pain” behavior, anxiety. In practice, they often ignore the aforementioned factors, determine only the presence of back pain and prescribe analgesic therapy, which does not allow for an effective result.

Insomnia is prevalent among patients with LBP, occurring in 47-64% of cases. With the COVID-19 pandemic among the population, the incidence of insomnia, anxiety and depression has increased. To date, the identification and treatment of these disorders is particularly relevant in the management of patients with chronic nonspecific LBP.

The patient was treated, which included non-drug and drug methods and complied with Russian and foreign clinical guidelines on the therapy of chronic nonspecific LBP and on the therapy of chronic insomnia. Non-drug treatment consisted of educational talks, recommendations on daily activity and sleep hygiene, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, relaxation, and therapeutic gymnastics. The listed methods were aimed at reducing pain catastrophizing, physical and social activation of the patient. The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug dexketoprofen was used as pharmacotherapy according to a step-by-step regimen. After 5 days of therapy pain relief was observed, after 3 months of therapy back pain regressed, sleep normalized, mood improved. This therapeutic approach showed its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of chronic nonspecific LBP and comorbid chronic insomnia.

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