[Chronic low Back Pain - A Dreaded Vicious Circle!]

Up to 10% of patients with low back pain develop chronic low back pain. By definition, this is a pain that has persisted for longer than three months. Patients with chronic low back pain suffer from a disease, which has serious effects on the psycho-social and physiological integrity of the persons concerned. Pain syndromes of the lumbar region are among the greatest health care system problems in industrialised countries with direct and indirect annual costs of 150 to 250 billion Swiss francs. Despite intensive treatment some patients remain symptomatic. Out of it results a complaint-driven functional under-utilisation, which leads to an alleviation of the performance and increased inactivity - the beginning of a vicious circle. A multimodal treatment concept including physio- and psychotherapy, supported by a targeted medicamentous therapy, normally improves physical functions and achieves a significant discomfort reduction. If resistance to therapy persists, it is suggestive to consider precociously minimal-invasive or invasive therapeutic options.