Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Richmond opioid epidemic is a big issue. 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 wanted. Non-drug alternative care like Richmond chiropractic care eases the Richmond back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without bad side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are the focus of much attention today. Researchers investigate these and other options as to what works best to assist Richmond back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are difficult 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 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) Johnson Chiropractic cares for many Richmond back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Richmond chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Richmond 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 used 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% took a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term consumers of opioids. The researchers inferred that lumbar spine fusion infrequently stopped the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) Johnson Chiropractic offers Richmond chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage Richmond back pain and for some prevent Richmond back surgery.
ALTERNATIVES TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Richmond back pain patients if opioids are to be avoided? Guidelines have been developed for opioid alternatives. Cost, intervention availability, and patient preferences are considered. First and foremost education and reassurance that Richmond back pain relief is possible and advice to remain active is important. The Richmond low back pain sufferer would benefit from learning more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients who don’t have any serious underlying issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are recommended. For chronic low back pain sufferers without serious underlying issues, exercise, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation, massage, manual therapy, rehab, NSAIDS, acetaminophen and antidepressants are suggested. 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 disclosing ineffectiveness. (5) Johnson Chiropractic offers Richmond chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Richmond back pain relief.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for Richmond back pain sufferers who choose Richmond chiropractic care at Johnson Chiropractic…and chiropractic may become the opioid-alternative news!
