SPINE REHABILITATION - SECONDARY AND TERTIARY NONOPERATIVE CARE

To achieve desirable behavioral outcomes, physicians treating spinal p ain patients should be aware of appropriate algorithms for conservativ e care. Lower cost secondary rehabilitation can be effective if decond itioning, severity of physical symptoms, surgical equivocation, or psy chosocial barriers to recovery are not present. Patients who have exte nded disability in excess of 6 months, recognized psychosocial barrier s (depression, substance abuse, personality disorders, secondary gain) , or severe deconditioning have a better prognosis with tertiary care.