Low Back Pain: What You and Your Doctor Should Know

MLL23011
Virtual Format (Online)

Tuesday Evenings, February 21 - March 28, 2023
7pm-8:30pm PT

Each session will have an individual link to be sent in the reminder message upon registration and the day of the session.

Course Chairvirtual course logo

Paul Su, MD
Anesthesiologist & Pain Management Physician at UCSF
School of Medicine

Alexandra Chang, MD
Anesthesiologist & Chronic Pain Physician
SFVA Medical Center

Course Description

It is estimated that up to eighty four percent of adults in the US will have low back pain at some time in their lives. It is a significant cause of disability, resulting in an immeasurable toll on function, happiness, and quality of life. While patients with this condition can fall through the cracks of the health care system, there have been major advances in safe, evidence-based, and affordable treatments which are frequently underrecognized and underutilized. This course, delivered by UCSF experts in pain management, will address the anatomy, physiology, and initial evaluation of low back, red flags for serious diseases, and multi-modal approaches to treatment including non-surgical interventions and medications for pain relief, physical therapy, surgical treatment, and the future of low back pain management.

Lecture Schedule

February 21, 2023
Back Pain Basics: Anatomy, Physiology, and the Initial Evaluation
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Paul Su, MD
Anesthesiologist & Pain Management Physician at UCSF School of Medicine

February 28, 2023
When is Low Back Pain Something Else: Red Flags for Serious Illnesses 
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Carolyn Kloepping, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia                                                                                                                                      

March 7, 2023
Interventions and Medications for Pain Relief 
Paul Cheng, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia  

March 14, 2023
Surgery for Back Pain 
Alan Dang, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedics
San Francisco VA Healthcare System

March 21, 2023
Physical Therapy for Back Pain 
Chun Chan, MPT
Staff Physical Therapist in Pain Management
San Francisco VA Healthcare System

Katrina Rodenkirch, DPT, TPS
PT Program Coordinator for Pain Management
San Francisco VA Healthcare System

March 28, 2023
The Future of Low Back Pain Management 
Alexandra Chang, MD
Anesthesiologist & Chronic Pain Physician, SFVA Medical Center