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. Baton Rouge does not2 escape the opioid issue. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers knows some Baton Rouge chiropractic patients with Baton Rouge back pain struggle with opioids that were, at one time, prescribed to assist them in coping with their back pain and now want to be done with them. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers understands and is ready to help Baton Rouge back pain sufferers get relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of Baton Rouge back pain is questioned while spinal manipulation such as offered at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers is suggested.

WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN

Low back pain burdens its sufferers’ life. It is not a surprise that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to get rid of the pain, a Baton Rouge back surgery to get rid of the pain’s source now. Sometimes it is not that simple: the pill may have unwanted effects or the benefits may not last long enough; the surgery relief may not continue or resulted in an unexpected outcome. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers appreciates the role of drugs for pain relief when necessary, respects the part back surgery has in a Baton Rouge back pain sufferer’s journey toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers also offers coordinating care to those back pain relief choices and, for some Baton Rouge back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back surgery rehabilitation and Baton Rouge 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 versus placebo. The side effects, serious ones for those who use strong opioids for a long period of 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) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers understands the Baton Rouge back pain patient who comes for Baton Rouge chiropractic care and establishes the suitable treatment plan to produce some back pain relief.

OPIOIDS AND BACK SURGERY

Patients choose back surgery often expecting quick pain relief that will negate 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 end the need for opioids. Reality shows that of 2491 adults who underwent lumbar fusion back surgery, 1045 used long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 used 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 afterward. 34.4% continued with a lower dose, but 44.8% continued with a higher dose. Of those who didn’t 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 considering Baton Rouge back surgery as the final solution to their Baton Rouge back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery seldom stopped the long-term opioid use and increased the risk of beginning their use later. Patient expectations of pain reduction and opioid use reduction demand reconsideration. (3)

ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF

Researchers work to create 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 coach and reassure patients, guide them to stay active and perform self-care. Acute back pain patients can do 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 do exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs. (4) Baton Rouge chiropractic care at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers fits these guidelines. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers presents a Baton Rouge chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehab, and more.

CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers

Schedule you Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment today with Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers. Opioids are not the only way to deal with Baton Rouge back pain, particularly Baton Rouge chronic low back pain. Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers offers hope for chronic low back pain relief to Baton Rouge back pain sufferers desiring a way to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers is worthwhile over opioids for back pain control.

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