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. Oxford does not2 escape the opioid issue. Satterwhite Chiropractic knows some Oxford chiropractic patients with Oxford 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. Satterwhite Chiropractic gets it and is ready to help Oxford back pain sufferers get relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of Oxford back pain is doubted while spinal manipulation such as offered at Satterwhite Chiropractic is recommended.

WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN

Low back pain overwhelms its sufferers’ life. It is not a surprise that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to be done with the pain, a Oxford 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 positive effects may not last long enough; the surgery relief may not continue or produced an unexpected outcome. Satterwhite Chiropractic values the role of drugs for pain relief when needed, respects the part back surgery plays in a Oxford back pain sufferer’s trip toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Satterwhite Chiropractic also offers complementary care to those back pain relief choices and, for some Oxford back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back surgery rehab and Oxford 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 sadly quite modest. 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 period of time, were usual. (1) Some patients respond better to drug therapies than others. Researchers found it hard to determine just how effective drugs like oxycodone and clobazam and imipramine will be for which chronic low back pain patient. (2) Satterwhite Chiropractic figures out each Oxford back pain patient who seeks for Oxford chiropractic care and sets the suitable treatment plan to get some back pain relief.

OPIOIDS AND BACK SURGERY

Patients choose back surgery often for pain relief or a quick fix that will negate 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% continued consuming them long-term, 13.8% occasionally, and just 9.1% discontinued or consumed them short-term afterward. 34.4% continued with a lower dose while 44.8% did so with a higher dose. Of those who didn’t take 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 Oxford back surgery as the ultimate answer to their Oxford back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery rarely ended 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 reconsidered. (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 recommend that clinicians teach and comfort patients, direct them to remain active and perform self-care. Acute back pain patients can do 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 use exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs. (4) Oxford chiropractic care at Satterwhite Chiropractic fits these guidelines. Satterwhite Chiropractic presents a Oxford chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehab, and more.

CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic

Schedule you Oxford chiropractic appointment now with Satterwhite Chiropractic. Opioids are not the only option for Oxford back pain relief, particularly Oxford chronic low back pain. Satterwhite Chiropractic offers hope for chronic low back pain relief to Oxford back pain sufferers wanting to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

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

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