Ninety percent of all low back pain can be managed successfully by the skillful and appropriate use of the major analgesic drugs, NSAIDs, and the opioids. Adjunctive drugs, such as skeletal muscle relaxants and antidepressants, have their uses, but must be considered as temporary aids to the major analgesics. There is intensive research to develop new and more useful analgesic drugs. Ketorolac tromethamine, an NSAID recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is suitable for intramuscular administration for the short-term management of postsurgical and other acute pain.