Call us to set up an appointment! 708-220-6809

Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?

Opioids are in the news. The West Palm Beach opioid epidemic is a great worry. 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 wanted. Non-drug alternative care like West Palm Beach chiropractic care relieves the West Palm Beach back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without bad side-effects.

DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY

Pharmacological treatment preferences – drugs – for easing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers scrutinize these and other options as to what is best to comfort West Palm Beach back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are difficult to foresee. One article suggested that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold respond better to imipramine. (1) Another stated 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) Chiropractic Care cares for many West Palm Beach back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the West Palm Beach chiropractic care is helpful for most.

DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY

West Palm Beach 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 used opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or took 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% used a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term users of opioids. The researchers inferred that lumbar spine fusion rarely interrupted the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of using them long-term. (4) Chiropractic Care offers West Palm Beach chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage West Palm Beach back pain and for some prevent West Palm Beach back surgery.

ALTERNATIVES TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN

What are the options for West Palm Beach 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 West Palm Beach back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The West Palm Beach 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 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 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 because of research revealing uselessness. (5) Chiropractic Care offers West Palm Beach chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for West Palm Beach back pain relief.

CONTACT Chiropractic Care

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 West Palm Beach chiropractic appointment with Chiropractic Care today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for West Palm Beach back pain sufferers who choose West Palm Beach chiropractic care at Chiropractic Care…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!

 
Pain control drugs like opioids aren’t always effective for West Palm Beach back pain. Chiropractic is a beneficial alternative. 
« View All Featured Articles
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."