Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The McHenry opioid epidemic is a great concern. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all sorts of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are common. But today, non-drug alternatives are in demand. Non-drug alternative care like McHenry chiropractic care lessens the McHenry back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without bad side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment preferences – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers study these and other alternatives as to what is best to comfort McHenry 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 react better to imipramine. (1) Another reported that electroacupuncture proved to be more cost effective than NSAIDs and suggested as an alternative for chronic low back pain treatment. (2) A third explained 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) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic cares for many McHenry back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the McHenry chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
McHenry 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 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 took opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or used them for a short time after surgery. Of patients who had not used 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 concluded that lumbar spine fusion hardly ever ended the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers McHenry chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage McHenry back pain and for some prevent McHenry back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for McHenry 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 McHenry back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The McHenry low back pain sufferer can learn more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients who do not have any concerning underlying issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are suggested. 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 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 uselessness. (5) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers McHenry chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be effective for McHenry back pain relief.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois 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 McHenry chiropractic appointment with OrthoIllinois Chiropractic today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for McHenry back pain sufferers who come for McHenry chiropractic care at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!
