Articles

835 Acute Lumbar Disk Pain: Navigating Evaluation and Treatment Choices

DAVID S. GREGORY, MD; CRAIG K. SETO, MD; GEORGE C. WORTLEY, MD; and CHRISTINE M. SHUGART, MD

Six weeks of conservative management is the first-line treatment for low back pain caused by lumbar disk herniation. Physicians should first investigate any red-flag findings that suggest emergent causes of the pain. Surgical diskectomy may be indicated to relieve irritation from herniated disk material or nerve root compression.

Patient information: "Treating Low Back Pain from a Disk Injury," p. 844

845 Common Oral Conditions in Older Persons

WANDA C. GONSALVES, MD; A. STEVENS WRIGHTSON, MD; and ROBERT G. HENRY, DMD, MPH

Primary care physicians play a role in improving the oral health of older patients by assessing the risk of oral diseases; performing a focused oral examination; recognizing and treating abnormal changes; and referring patients to a dentist, if needed.

Editorial: "Promoting Oral Health: The Family Physician's Role," p. 814

853 Multiple Myeloma: Diagnosis and Treatment

KONRAD C. NAU, MD, and WILLIAM D. LEWIS, MD

Multiple myeloma is diagnosed with serum or urine protein electrophoresis or immunofixation and bone marrow aspirate analysis. Although patients with asymptomatic or benign disease should not be treated, autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard treatment for many symptomatic patients. Disease complications should also be addressed.

Patient information: "Multiple Myeloma: What You Should Know," p. 860

861 Oppositional Defiant Disorder

S. SUTTON HAMILTON, MD, and JOHN ARMANDO, LCSW

Oppositional defiant disorder usually begins in the preschool years and is diagnosed in early elementary school, often with coexisting conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Because of the strain that oppositional defiant disorder places on the child's relationships, early diagnosis and treatment (e.g., psychological interventions, collaborative problem solving, use of stimulants) are key.

Patient information: "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," p. 867

Departments

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Keeping Up to Date

872 Tips from Other Journals

882 Practice Guidelines

• ACP Guidelines on Screening for Osteoporosis in Men

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Answering Clinical Questions

819 CME Quiz

869 Photo Quiz

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Commentary

804 AFP Journal Club

808 Letters to the Editor

• Pregabalin for the Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia

814 Editorials

• Promoting Oral Health: The Family Physician's Role

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Medicine and Society

811 AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

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Patient Information

844 Low Back Pain

860 Multiple Myeloma

867 Oppositional Defiant Disorder

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Reader Services

798 Evidence-Based Medicine Glossary

803 Change-of-Address Form

808 Correction

CME Center

• Search Available CME Courses

884 Classified Information

This article is included as part of this issue's continuing medical education (CME) activity. See CME Quiz, p. 819.

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