Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Williamson opioid epidemic is a great item. 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 Williamson chiropractic care lessens the Williamson 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 scrutinize these and other options as to what is best to comfort Williamson 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 was 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) Apple Country Chiropractic cares for many Williamson back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Williamson chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Williamson chronic low back pain guides 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 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 users of opioids. The researchers decided that lumbar spine fusion hardly ever stopped the long-term opioid use and actually intensified the risk of using them long-term. (4) Apple Country Chiropractic offers Williamson chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to reduce Williamson back pain and for some prevent Williamson back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Williamson 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 Williamson back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Williamson low back pain sufferer can 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 recommended due to research showing ineffectiveness. (5) Apple Country Chiropractic offers Williamson chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Williamson back pain relief.
CONTACT Apple Country 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 relieves back pain for his performing arts patients without drugs so they can keep performing!
Schedule your Williamson chiropractic appointment with Apple Country Chiropractic today. The opioid epidemic may be curbed for Williamson back pain sufferers who come for Williamson chiropractic care at Apple Country Chiropractic…and chiropractic may develop into being the opioid-alternative news!
