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. Vancouver does not2 escape the opioid issue. Vancouver Disc Centers sees some Vancouver chiropractic patients with Vancouver 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. Vancouver Disc Centers gets it and is ready to help Vancouver back pain sufferers get relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of Vancouver back pain is doubted while spinal manipulation such as offered at Vancouver Disc Centers is suggested.

WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN

Low back pain burdens its sufferers’ life. It’s not a surprise that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to get rid of the pain, a Vancouver back surgery to remove the pain’s cause now. Occasionally it is not that easy: the pill may have unwelcome effects or the positive effects may not last long enough; the surgery relief may not last or produced an unexpected outcome. Vancouver Disc Centers appreciates the role of drugs for pain relief when necessary, admires the part back surgery has in a Vancouver back pain sufferer’s journey toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Vancouver Disc Centers also offers complementary care to those back pain relief options and, for some Vancouver back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back surgery rehab and Vancouver 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 decided that the effectiveness is poor. 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 common. (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) Vancouver Disc Centers understands the Vancouver back pain patient who seeks for Vancouver chiropractic care and sets the suitable treatment plan to get 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 took long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 needed opioids afterwards. Of the pre-operative opioid patients, 77.1% continued using them long-term, 13.8% occasionally, and just 9.1% discontinued or used 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 thinking about Vancouver back surgery as the ultimate answer to their Vancouver back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery rarely stopped the long-term opioid use and increased the risk of beginning their use later. Patient expectations of pain reduction and opioid use reduction need to be reevaluated. (3)

ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF

Researchers work to develop 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 teach and reassure patients, direct them to stay active and perform self-care. Acute back pain patients can choose exercise, manual therapy, heat, and NSAIDS. Chronic back pain patients can use exercise, yoga, manual therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, massage, rehabilitation, etc. Radicular back pain patients may choose exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs. (4) Vancouver chiropractic care at Vancouver Disc Centers suits these guidelines. Vancouver Disc Centers offers a Vancouver chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehab, and more.

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

Schedule you Vancouver chiropractic appointment today with Vancouver Disc Centers. Opioids aren’t the only way to deal with Vancouver back pain, particularly Vancouver chronic low back pain. Vancouver Disc Centers offers optimism for chronic low back pain relief to Vancouver back pain sufferers wanting to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

Chiropractic spinal manipulation at Vancouver Disc Centers is worthwhile over opioids for back pain control.

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