Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?
Opioids are in the news. The Juneau opioid epidemic is a great issue. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all sorts of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are common. But today, non-drug alternatives are wanted. Non-drug alternative care like Juneau chiropractic care relieves the Juneau back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often minus the bad side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers study these and other alternatives as to what is best to assist Juneau 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 react better to imipramine. (1) Another reported that electroacupuncture proved to be 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) Aurora Chiropractic Center cares for many Juneau back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Juneau chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Juneau 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 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 used opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or took 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% 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 increased the risk of taking them long-term. (4) Aurora Chiropractic Center offers Juneau chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to relieve Juneau back pain and for some prevent Juneau back surgery.
OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Juneau back pain patients if opioids are to be avoided? Guidelines have been developed for opioid alternatives. Cost, intervention availability, and patient preferences are considered. First and foremost education and reassurance that Juneau back pain relief is possible and advice to remain active is important. The Juneau low back pain sufferer can 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 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 suggested because of research revealing ineffectiveness. (5) Aurora Chiropractic Center offers Juneau chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be successful for Juneau back pain relief.
CONTACT Aurora Chiropractic Center
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 Juneau chiropractic appointment with Aurora Chiropractic Center today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for Juneau back pain sufferers who choose Juneau chiropractic care at Aurora Chiropractic Center…and chiropractic may turn out to be the opioid-alternative news!
