Opioids are in the news. The Southern New Hampshire opioid epidemic is a great issue. Opioids are prescribed for pain relief of all sorts of pain. Opioids for back pain relief are a common prescription. But today, non-drug alternatives are wanted. Non-drug alternative care like Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care lessens the Southern New Hampshire back pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often without adverse side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment possibilities – drugs – for reducing chronic low back pain are of much interest today. Researchers scrutinize these and other alternatives as to what is best to benefit Southern New Hampshire back pain patients. The effect of drugs like oxycodone (an opioid drug), clobazam and imipramine on chronic low back pain are difficult to predict. One article suggested that patients who are more sensitive to hot and cold react 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) New Hampshire Spine and Sport cares for many Southern New Hampshire back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
Southern New Hampshire chronic low back pain leads 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 took opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or took 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% used a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term consumers of opioids. The researchers decided that lumbar spine fusion infrequently ended the long-term opioid use and actually increased the risk of using them long-term. (4) New Hampshire Spine and Sport offers Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage Southern New Hampshire back pain and for some prevent Southern New Hampshire back surgery.
ALTERNATIVES TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for Southern New Hampshire back pain patients if opioids are to be avoided? Guidelines have been developed for opioid alternatives. Cost, intervention availability, and patient preferences are considered. One of the first things to do is educate and reassure the patient that Southern New Hampshire back pain relief is possible and to remain active. The Southern New Hampshire low back pain sufferer would do well to learn more about self-care options. For acute low back pain and neck pain patients without any concerning underlying issue, exercise, manual therapy, heat and NSAIDs are suggested. For chronic low back pain sufferers who do not present with serious underlying issues, exercise, yoga, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation, massage, manual therapy, rehab, NSAIDS, acetaminophen and antidepressants are recommended. 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) New Hampshire Spine and Sport offers Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care including Cox Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented to be effective for Southern New Hampshire back pain relief.
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
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 keep performing!
Schedule your Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment with New Hampshire Spine and Sport today. The opioid epidemic may be limited for Southern New Hampshire back pain sufferers who choose Southern New Hampshire chiropractic care at New Hampshire Spine and Sport…and chiropractic may become the opioid-alternative news!