Back Pain Back Pain Medications and Therapies

Question 1

Which NSAID is most commonly recommended for back pain due to its favorable GI safety profile when used with a proton pump inhibitor?

Accepted Answer

Celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor)

Answer

Aspirin

Answer

Indomethacin

Answer

Ketorolac

Question 2

Cyclobenzaprine, used as a muscle relaxant for back spasm, acts primarily on which structure?

Accepted Answer

Spinal cord interneurons and brainstem

Answer

Peripheral neuromuscular junction

Answer

Muscle fibers directly

Answer

Dopamine receptors

Question 3

Which opioid analgesic property is most relevant to its risk of causing physical dependence in back pain patients?

Accepted Answer

Mu-receptor binding and tolerance development

Answer

Half-life duration

Answer

Route of administration

Answer

Protein binding percentage

Question 4

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is FDA-approved for chronic low back pain and works by which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Inhibiting serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake (SNRI)

Answer

Blocking COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes

Answer

Binding GABA receptors

Answer

Blocking sodium channels

Question 5

What is the primary risk of long-term systemic corticosteroid use for back pain management?

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis, adrenal suppression, and hyperglycemia

Answer

Renal failure only

Answer

Hearing loss

Answer

Peripheral neuropathy

Question 6

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain is thought to work partly through release of which endogenous substances?

Accepted Answer

Endorphins and enkephalins

Answer

Prostaglandins

Answer

Substance P only

Answer

Cortisol