Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Carrolltown opioid epidemic is a big concern. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all types of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are a common prescription. But today, non-drug alternatives are wanted. Non-drug alternative care like Carrolltown chiropractic care eases the Carrolltown back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often minus the adverse side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment possibilities – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are the focus of much attention today. Researchers study these and other alternatives as to what works best to benefit Carrolltown back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are hard to foresee. One article suggested that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold react better to imipramine. (1) Another reported that electroacupuncture was more cost effective than NSAIDs and suggested as an alternative for chronic low back pain treatment. (2) A third wrote that most drugs - paracetamol (acetaminophen), NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, opioids, and other (new) drugs - offered small to moderate and short lasting effects compared with placebo. And there were side-effects. (3) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation cares for many Carrolltown back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Carrolltown chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Carrolltown chronic low back pain leads some sufferers to lumbar spine fusion surgery. Patients who go this route to deal with their back pain often take opioids prior to surgery hoping – even expecting – that they will not require opioids after the surgery. Reality is different. 77.1% of pre-operative opioid patients continued to use opioids long-term post-operatively: 13.8% of them took opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or used them for a short time after surgery. Of patients who hadn’t used opioids before surgery, 34.4% used a lower dose after surgery, and 44.8% consumed a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term users of opioids. The researchers inferred that lumbar spine fusion infrequently stopped the long-term opioid use and actually intensified the risk of using them long-term. (4) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation offers Carrolltown chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to relieve Carrolltown back pain and for some prevent Carrolltown back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Carrolltown back pain patients if opioids are to be avoided? Guidelines have been developed for opioid alternatives. Cost, intervention availability, and patient preferences are considered. One of the first things to do is educate and reassure the patient that Carrolltown back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Carrolltown low back pain sufferer would do well to learn more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients who don’t have any concerning causal issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are recommended. For chronic low back pain sufferers who do not present with serious underlying issues, exercise, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation, massage, manual therapy, rehab, NSAIDS, acetaminophen and antidepressants are recommended. Patients with radiculopathy (sciatic leg pain) can use exercise, spinal manipulation, or NSAIDS. Benzodiazepines, botulinum toxin injection, systemic corticosteroids, cervical collar, electrical muscle stimulation, diathermy, TENS and traction are not suggested due to research revealing ineffectiveness. (5) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation offers Carrolltown chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Carrolltown back pain relief.
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Roy Siegel on the Back Doctor’s Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares how Cox Technic reduces back pain for his performing arts patients without drugs so they can keep performing!
Schedule your Carrolltown chiropractic appointment with Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation today. The opioid epidemic may be curbed for Carrolltown back pain sufferers who come for Carrolltown chiropractic care at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation…and chiropractic may become the opioid-alternative news!
