Celecoxib for Management of Refractory Back Pain Secondary to Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Case Report

Back pain is the most common symptom of vertebral osteomyelitis and can be difficult to manage. Pain may persist despite appropriate antibiotic medications and may be refractory to common analgesic treatments. We present a case of a 53-year-old man with acute onset severe low back pain. Clinical evaluation and diagnostic workup were consistent with L1 osteomyelitis. The patient continued to report pain following treatment with intravenous antibiotics and typical analgesic therapy. Opioids were discontinued and low-dose celecoxib was initiated with appreciable improvement in pain and activity tolerance. Celecoxib may be a good option and alternative to opioids in the pain management of this population.