Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Ashburn and Herndon opioid epidemic is a big item. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all sorts of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are a common prescription. But today, non-drug alternatives are in demand. Non-drug alternative care like Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care reduces the Ashburn and Herndon back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often devoid of adverse side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for easing chronic low back pain are the focus of much attention today. Researchers study these and other alternatives as to what works best to assist Ashburn and Herndon back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are difficult to foresee. One article proposed that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold react better to imipramine. (1) Another described that electroacupuncture proved to be more cost effective than NSAIDs and suggested as an alternative for chronic low back pain treatment. (2) A third reported 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) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn cares for many Ashburn and Herndon back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Ashburn and Herndon chronic low back pain guides some sufferers to lumbar spine fusion surgery. Patients who choose this option to get relief of 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 used opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or took them for a short time after surgery. Of patients who had not took 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 concluded that lumbar spine fusion rarely ended the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn offers Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to relieve Ashburn and Herndon back pain and for some prevent Ashburn and Herndon back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Ashburn and Herndon 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 Ashburn and Herndon back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Ashburn and Herndon low back pain sufferer would benefit from learning more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients without any concerning underlying issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are recommended. For chronic low back pain sufferers who don’t 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 because of research revealing ineffectiveness. (5) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn offers Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be effective for Ashburn and Herndon back pain relief.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Roy Siegel on the Back Doctor’s Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares how Cox Technic relieves back pain for his performing arts patients without drugs so they can keep performing!
Schedule your Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic appointment with Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for Ashburn and Herndon back pain sufferers who come for Ashburn and Herndon chiropractic care at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!
