Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for back pain and related conditions?
How often have La Grande low back pain patients asked this?! They’re
both over-the-counter analgesic drugs. Everyone knows them. But some recent
studies Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC has read will surely interest our La Grande
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 satisfied patients’ desire for 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) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 La Grande back pain patients. Chiropractic care at
Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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)
Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows that this may make our chiropractic patients think twice
before taking acetaminophen next time...and call Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC instead!
So contact Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 La Grande back pain may well result in the
relief you are seeking!