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

The opioid epidemic. It’s in the news. West Palm Beach does not2 escape the opioid issue. Chiropractic Care knows some West Palm Beach chiropractic patients with West Palm Beach 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. Chiropractic Care gets it and is ready to help West Palm Beach back pain sufferers get relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of West Palm Beach back pain is doubted while spinal manipulation such as offered at Chiropractic Care is suggested.

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 desires a pill to get rid of the pain, a West Palm Beach back surgery to remove the pain’s cause now.  Occasionally it is not that simple: the pill may have unwanted effects or the benefits may not last very long; the surgery relief may not last or resulted in an unexpected outcome. Chiropractic Care appreciates the role of drugs for pain relief when necessary, admires the part back surgery plays in a West Palm Beach back pain sufferer’s trip toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Chiropractic Care also offers complementary care to those back pain relief choices and, for some West Palm Beach back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention as well as post-back surgery rehab and West Palm Beach 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 not very good. Opioids’ effects on pain reduction and function improvement are small to moderate and short-lasting compared to placebo. The side effects, serious ones for those who use strong opioids for a long time, were common. (1) Some patients react 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) Chiropractic Care understands the West Palm Beach back pain patient who comes for West Palm Beach chiropractic care and sets the appropriate treatment plan to produce some back pain relief.

OPIOIDS AND BACK SURGERY

Patients opt for back surgery often expecting quick pain relief that will remove the need for pain control drugs. Researchers checked into this idea and found that many back pain sufferers who were took opioids before surgery expected that surgery would fix the problem and not have to take opioids anymore. Reality shows that of 2491 adults who underwent lumbar fusion back surgery, 1045 used long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 took opioids after surgery. Of the pre-operative opioid patients, 77.1% kept taking them long-term, 13.8% occasionally, and just 9.1% discontinued or took them short-term subsequently. 34.4% continued with a lower dose, but 44.8% continued with a higher dose. Of those who did not take any opioids before back surgery, 12.8% became long-term users.  What was the end result? What do patients need to know who are considering West Palm Beach back surgery as the ultimate answer to their West Palm Beach back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery seldom stopped the long-term opioid use and heightened the risk of creating the need for their use later.  Patient expectations of pain reduction and opioid use reduction need to be reexamined. (3)

ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF

Researchers strive to create guidelines for back pain relief treatment. These guidelines direct that non-effective treatments should not be used (systemic corticosteroids, TENS, traction, electrical muscle stim, benozodiazepines, botulinum toxin injection, etc.) and suggest that clinicians coach and comfort patients, advise them to remain active and do self-care. Acute back pain patients can choose exercise, manual therapy, heat, and NSAIDS. Chronic back pain patients can choose exercise, yoga, manual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, rehabilitation, etc. Radicular back pain patients may choose exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs.  (4) West Palm Beach chiropractic care at Chiropractic Care  fits these guidelines. Chiropractic Care presents a West Palm Beach chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehab, and more.

CONTACT Chiropractic Care

Schedule you West Palm Beach chiropractic appointment now with Chiropractic Care. Opioids aren’t the only way to deal with West Palm Beach back pain, particularly West Palm Beach chronic low back pain. Chiropractic Care offers hope for chronic low back pain relief to West Palm Beach back pain sufferers wanting to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

 
Chiropractic spinal manipulation at Chiropractic Care is worthwhile over opioids for back pain control. 
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"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."