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Effectiveness of Opioids for Pain Control is Questionable while Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation is Recommended

Opioids. They’re in the news. Richmond doesn’t escape the opioid issue. Johnson Chiropractic knows some Richmond chiropractic patients with Richmond back pain struggle with opioids that were, at one time, prescribed to help them cope with their back pain and now want to be off of them. Johnson Chiropractic gets it and is ready to help Richmond back pain sufferers find relief without opioid drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of Richmond back pain is doubted while spinal manipulation such as offered at Johnson Chiropractic is suggested.

WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN

Low back pain overwhelms a back pain patient’s life. It is no wonder that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to be done with the pain, a Richmond back surgery to remove the pain’s cause now.  Occasionally it’s not that easy: the pill may have unwanted effects or the positive effects may not last very long; the surgery relief may not continue or resulted in an unexpected result. Johnson Chiropractic values the role of drugs for pain relief when needed, admires the part back surgery plays in a Richmond back pain sufferer’s trip toward pain relief and a better quality of life. Johnson Chiropractic also offers complementary care to those back pain relief choices and, for some Richmond back pain sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back surgery rehab and Richmond 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 concluded that the effectiveness is not very good. Opioids’ effects on pain reduction and function improvement are small to moderate and brief compared to placebo. The side effects, serious ones for those who use strong opioids for a long period of time, were common. (1) Some patients react 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) Johnson Chiropractic figures out each Richmond back pain patient who comes for Richmond chiropractic care and establishes the appropriate treatment plan to get some back pain relief.

OPIOIDS AND BACK SURGERY

Patients opt for back surgery often seeking quick pain relief that will stop 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 end the need for opioids. Reality shows that of 2491 adults who underwent lumbar fusion back surgery, 1045 used long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 used opioids after surgery. Of the pre-operative opioid patients, 77.1% kept consuming 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 did not 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 Richmond back surgery as the ultimate answer to their Richmond back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery seldom ended the long-term opioid use and increased the risk of creating the need for their use later.  Patient expectations of pain reduction and opioid use reduction demand reevaluation. (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 be avoided (systemic corticosteroids, TENS, traction, electrical muscle stim, benozodiazepines, botulinum toxin injection, etc.) and suggest that clinicians educate and reassure patients, direct them to stay active and do 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) Richmond chiropractic care at Johnson Chiropractic  suits these guidelines. Johnson Chiropractic presents a Richmond chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation with Cox Technic, exercise, rehabilitation, and more.

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Schedule you Richmond chiropractic appointment now with Johnson Chiropractic. Opioids aren’t the only option for Richmond back pain relief, particularly Richmond chronic low back pain. Johnson Chiropractic offers optimism for chronic low back pain relief to Richmond back pain sufferers wishing to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.

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