Back and neck pain are among the most common complaints that are treated in the primary care setting. Appropriate conservative measures are an important step in the management of these complaints, though identifying the need for more emergent referrals, surgical considerations and expedited attention by specialists is also necessary.

Learning Objectives:

1. 1. Identification of common pathologies and treatment strategies/algorithms in spinal pathology
   2. Identification of the natural history of the degenerative spine, and treatment strategies
   3. Identification of "red flags" and the need for more expedited/urgent work up and treatment
   4. Trying to sort through the mess of why spine surgery is all over the map
   5. Identifying what a spine surgeon sees as the optimal patient referral.