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Opioid Pain Control Drugs like Opioids: Are They Effective for Back Pain?

Opioids are in the news. The San Jose opioid epidemic is a great issue. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all types of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are a common prescription. But today, non-drug alternatives are in demand. Non-drug alternative care like San Jose chiropractic care relieves the San Jose back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without bad side-effects.

DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY

Pharmacological treatment options – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers scrutinize these and other alternatives as to what is best to assist San Jose back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are hard to foresee. One article suggested that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold respond better to imipramine. (1) Another stated that electroacupuncture proved to be more cost effective than NSAIDs and suggested as an alternative for chronic low back pain treatment. (2) A third reported 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) McMurray Chiropractic Solutions cares for many San Jose back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the San Jose chiropractic care is helpful for most.

DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY

San Jose chronic low back pain guides some sufferers to lumbar spine fusion surgery. Patients who go this route to deal 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 used them for a short time after surgery. Of patients who had not 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 inferred that lumbar spine fusion seldom stopped the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of using them long-term. (4) McMurray Chiropractic Solutions offers San Jose chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to reduce San Jose back pain and for some prevent San Jose back surgery.

OPTIONS TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN

What are the options for San Jose 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 San Jose back pain relief is possible and advice to remain active is important. The San Jose low back pain sufferer would do well to 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 serious causal issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are suggested. For chronic low back pain sufferers who don’t present with serious underlying issues, exercise, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation, massage, manual therapy, rehab, NSAIDS, acetaminophen and antidepressants are suggested. 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 recommended because of research disclosing uselessness. (5) McMurray Chiropractic Solutions offers San Jose chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be effective for San Jose back pain relief.

CONTACT McMurray Chiropractic Solutions

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Roy Siegel on the Back Doctor’s Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares how Cox Technic reduces back pain for his performing arts patients without drugs so they can continue performing!

Schedule your San Jose chiropractic appointment with McMurray Chiropractic Solutions today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for San Jose back pain sufferers who choose San Jose chiropractic care at McMurray Chiropractic Solutions…and chiropractic may develop into being the opioid-alternative news!

 
Pain control drugs like opioids aren’t always effective for San Jose back pain. Chiropractic is a beneficial alternative. 
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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."