Effectiveness of Opioids for Pain Control is Questionable while Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation is Recommended

June 12, 2018

The opioid epidemic. It’s in the news. Williamson does not2 escape the opioid issue. Apple Country Chiropractic sees some Williamson chiropractic patients with Williamson back pain struggle with opioids that were, at some point, prescribed to assist them in coping with their back pain and now desire to be done with them. Apple Country Chiropractic understands and is ready to help Williamson back pain sufferers get relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of Williamson back pain is doubted while spinal manipulation such as offered at Apple Country Chiropractic is recommended.

WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN

Low back pain overwhelms a back pain patient’s life. It’s not a surprise that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to get rid of the pain, a Williamson back surgery to get rid of the pain’s cause now. Occasionally it is not that simple: the pill may have unwelcome effects or the positive effects may not last very long; the surgery relief may not continue or produced an unexpected result. Apple Country Chiropractic appreciates the role of drugs for pain relief when necessary, respects the part back surgery has in a Williamson back pain sufferer’s journey toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Apple Country Chiropractic also offers coordinating care to those back pain relief choices and, for some Williamson back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back surgery rehab and Williamson back pain relief.

OPIOIDS’ ROLE IN BACK PAIN RELIEF

A recent Cochrane data review of randomized clinical trials on the effectiveness of opioids and other drugs for chronic low back pain concluded that the effectiveness is poor. Opioids’ effects on pain reduction and function improvement are small to moderate and short-lasting versus placebo. The side effects, serious ones for those who use strong opioids for a long time, were usual. (1) Some patients respond better to drug therapies than others. Researchers found it hard to figure out just how effective drugs like oxycodone and clobazam and imipramine will be for which chronic low back pain patient. (2) Apple Country Chiropractic understands the Williamson back pain patient who seeks for Williamson chiropractic care and establishes the suitable treatment plan to produce some back pain relief.

OPIOIDS AND BACK SURGERY

Patients opt for back surgery often expecting quick pain relief that will stop the need for pain control drugs. Researchers checked into this idea and found that many back pain sufferers who were prescribed opioids before surgery expected that surgery would eliminate the need for opioids. Reality shows that of 2491 adults who underwent lumbar fusion back surgery, 1045 needed long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 needed opioids subsequently. Of the pre-operative opioid patients, 77.1% continued using them long-term, 13.8% occasionally, and just 9.1% discontinued or consumed them short-term afterward. 34.4% continued with a lower dose while 44.8% continued with a higher dose. Of those who did not use any opioids before back surgery, 12.8% became long-term users. What was the bottom line? What do patients need to know who are thinking about Williamson back surgery as the ultimate answer to their Williamson back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery seldom ended the long-term opioid use and heightened the risk of starting their use afterwards. Patient expectations of pain reduction and opioid use reduction need to be reevaluated. (3)

ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF

Researchers strive to develop guidelines for back pain relief treatment. These guidelines direct that non-effective treatments should be avoided (systemic corticosteroids, TENS, traction, electrical muscle stim, benozodiazepines, botulinum toxin injection, etc.) and suggest that clinicians educate and comfort patients, advise them to stay active and perform self-care. Acute back pain patients can choose exercise, manual therapy, heat, and NSAIDS. Chronic back pain patients can use exercise, yoga, manual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, rehabilitation, etc. Radicular back pain patients may use exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs. (4) Williamson chiropractic care at Apple Country Chiropractic suits these guidelines. Apple Country Chiropractic presents a Williamson chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehabilitation, and more.

CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic

Schedule you Williamson chiropractic appointment now with Apple Country Chiropractic. Opioids are not the only way to deal with Williamson back pain, particularly Williamson chronic low back pain. Apple Country Chiropractic offers optimism for chronic low back pain relief to Williamson back pain sufferers wanting to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation at Apple Country Chiropractic is worthwhile over opioids for back pain control.

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