Back pain is always approached according to the biological-psychosocial model. Pain is not always related to tissue damage. The severity of tissue damage is also not always directly related to the intensity of pain.

To further follow this care pathway, focusing on the biological-psychosocial model, monthly Multidisciplinary Spine meetings are organised since 2019 with the spinal surgeons, physiatrists, neurologists, anaesthesiologists/algologists, pain nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists.

A patient's case can be brought before the multidisciplinary meeting by all members of the meeting, but also by the GP The patient is seen by multiple disciplines in advance and their case is then discussed at the meeting, to arrive at a personalized multidisciplinary treatment plan. This step-by-step plan is summarized in a letter to the GP and is also discussed with the patient at the next visit.Active patient cooperation is obviously necessary in a successful multidisciplinary treatment.

The monthly meeting is also an ideal opportunity for us to collectively educate ourselves so that we all "speak the same language". We will delve further into the clinical tests, the indications for multidisciplinary back school, for manual therapy, for infiltrations and for surgery.

Since March 2021, AZ Jan Portaels has had a Fedris-approved multidisciplinary back school. Fedris is the Federal Agency for Occupational Safety and Health. Attending back school is the best secondary prevention for back pain, to avoid lost working time.

At AZ Jan Portaels, we clearly want to provide the best care for back patients. Our multidisciplinary spine meetings, lower back pain care pathway, biological-psychosocial model for addressing pain, and a multidisciplinary back school are proof of this.