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Acetaminophen Not Effective for Low Back Pain; Chiropractic Is!

Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for back pain and related conditions?

How often have Vancouver low back pain patients asked this?! They’re both over-the-counter analgesic drugs. Everyone knows them. But some recent studies Vancouver Disc Centers has read will surely interest our Vancouver low back pain patients the next time their back hurts and they reach for one of these.

To start, one set of researchers compared ibuprofen and paracetamol (acetaminophen) for chronic pain conditions like back pain, migraine, osteoarthritis, cancer pain, etc. In their review of several studies, they found that ibuprofen usually better met patients’ expectations of pain relief. Neither was effective for everyone. So this study questions the use of acetaminophen as the first-line, go-to drug for chronic pain. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers admires these researchers’ curiosity about ibuprofen versus acetaminophen for back pain. It surely set the stage for more studies.

A more recent research report states outright that paracetamol (acetaminophen) is ineffective for low back pain treatment. It goes on to state that acetaminophen gives minimal short term relief to patients suffering with osteoarthritis! (2) Vancouver Disc Centers bets this report will get some attention! Acetaminophen is so often recommended for relief of low back pain and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. These researchers question that recommendation.

Astonishingly, another research paper comes right out and states that “no high-quality evidence supports this recommendation” of acetaminophen as the first-line painkiller for acute low-back pain. (3) That’s ok though for Vancouver back pain patients. Chiropractic care at Vancouver Disc Centers is a great first-line care option for back pain relief!

Further, one more paper says that up to 4000mg of paracetamol (acetaminophen) is ineffective for acute low back pain. (4) Vancouver Disc Centers knows that this may make our chiropractic patients think twice before taking acetaminophen next time...and call Vancouver Disc Centers instead!

So contact Vancouver Disc Centers for back pain relief next time you find yourself reaching for a bottle of ibuprofen or acetaminophen for relief. A non-drug treatment plan featuring the evidence-based Cox Technic system of care for your Vancouver back pain may well result in the relief you are seeking!

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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."