Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?

Opioids are in the news. The Nashua opioid epidemic is a great concern. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all types of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are common. But today, non-drug alternatives are wanted. Non-drug alternative care like Nashua chiropractic care relieves the Nashua back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often devoid of bad side-effects.

DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY

Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for easing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers investigate these and other options as to what is best to comfort Nashua back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are hard to predict. One article suggested that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold respond 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) Moriarty Chiropractic cares for many Nashua back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Nashua chiropractic care is helpful for most.

DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY

Nashua 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 need 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 hadn’t used opioids before surgery, 34.4% used a lower dose after surgery, and 44.8% used a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term consumers of opioids. The researchers inferred that lumbar spine fusion hardly ever interrupted the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) Moriarty Chiropractic offers Nashua chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage Nashua back pain and for some prevent Nashua back surgery.

OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN

What are the options for Nashua 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 Nashua back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Nashua low back pain sufferer would do well to learn more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients who do not have any concerning causal issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are suggested. 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 due to research showing ineffectiveness. (5) Moriarty Chiropractic offers Nashua chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Nashua back pain relief.

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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 continue performing!

Schedule your Nashua chiropractic appointment with Moriarty Chiropractic today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for Nashua back pain sufferers who choose Nashua chiropractic care at Moriarty Chiropractic…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!