Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Augusta opioid epidemic is a big item. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all types of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are a common prescription. But today, non-drug alternatives are in demand. Non-drug alternative care like Augusta chiropractic care eases the Augusta back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without adverse side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for easing chronic low back pain are the focus of much attention today. Researchers investigate these and other alternatives as to what works best to benefit Augusta 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 react 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 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) Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic cares for many Augusta back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Augusta chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Augusta chronic low back pain leads 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 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 hadn’t took 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 users of opioids. The researchers inferred that lumbar spine fusion rarely ended the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic offers Augusta chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to reduce Augusta back pain and for some prevent Augusta back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Augusta 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 Augusta back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Augusta low back pain sufferer would do well to learn more about how to care for pain on their own. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients who do not have any serious causal 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 showing uselessness. (5) Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic offers Augusta chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Augusta 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 Augusta chiropractic appointment with Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic today. The opioid epidemic may be curbed for Augusta back pain sufferers who choose Augusta chiropractic care at Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!
