Chronic Low Back Pain: A Review on Uses and Abuses of Medicare Expenditure

Pain complaints are a leading reason for medical visits.1 The most common pain complaints are musculoskeletal and LBP. The prevalence and impact of back pain have led to an expanding array of tests and treatments, including injections, surgical procedures, implantable devices, and medications. Each is valuable for some patients, but use may be expanding beyond scientifically validated indications, driven by professional concern, patient advocacy, marketing, and the media. 2-4