Comparison of the efficacy of dexketoprofen and diclofenac in treatment of non-specific low back pain

Work-related loads, improper lifestyle, increasing obesity, and lack of adequate prophylaxy render low back pain (LBP) one of the most common causes of chronic pain worldwide. Objective. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of two analgesic drugs on the effectiveness of therapy measured by pain intensity. and the degree of disability during treatment of chronic low back pain syndrome Material and method. The retrospective analysis involved 185 patients undergoing treatment for chronic low back pain syndrome with dexketoprofen (DEX) and diclofenac (DIC). Patients’ gender. place of residence. cause of the pain as well as pain intensity in the visual-analogue scale (VAS) and the disability degree (Oswestry Disability Index – ODI) were analysed. Results. From the first week of treatment to the end of the observation. the DEX group exhibited significantly lower values of pain intensity on the disability index. The correlation coefficients between the parameters were significantly higher in the DEX group. Analysis of variance demonstrated that the choice of NSAIDs was the most significant factor determining the effectiveness of the treatment. Discussion. The cause of the pain and place of residence did not have any impact on the treatment efficacy. The pharmacological properties of dexketoprofen contribute to its beneficial effect on the therapy used. which validates the potential use of DEX in LBP management. Summary. The significantly increased correlation between the aforementioned parameters suggests that administration of dexketoprofen in the management of non-specific low back pain results in a more rapid return to full physical activity and therefore more prompt return to work.