Opioids are in the news. The La Grande opioid
epidemic is a big worry. 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 La Grande
chiropractic care eases the La Grande back
pain these opioids have been prescribed for and often minus
the bad side-effects.
DRUG USE BEFORE BACK SURGERY
Pharmacological treatment preferences
– drugs – for easing chronic low back pain are the focus of
much attention today. Researchers investigate
these and other options as to what works best to
help La Grande 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 reported
that electroacupuncture was more cost effective than NSAIDs
and suggested as an alternative for chronic low back pain treatment. (2) A third
wrote 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) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC cares for many La Grande
back pain sufferers seeking pain relief without drugs. And the La Grande
chiropractic care is helpful for most.
DRUG USE AFTER BACK SURGERY
La Grande 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 took
opioids off and off; 9.1% discontinued using them or used them for a
short time after surgery. Of patients who had not used
opioids before surgery, 34.4% used a lower dose after surgery, and 44.8% consumed
a higher long-term dose. 12.8% became long-term consumers of
opioids. The researchers concluded that lumbar spine
fusion rarely stopped
the long-term opioid use and actually intensified the risk of using
them long-term. (4) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC offers La Grande chiropractic care
both pre-operatively and post-operatively to manage La Grande
back pain and for some prevent La Grande back surgery.
ALTERNATIVES TO DRUGS FOR BACK PAIN
What are the options for La Grande 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 La Grande
back pain relief is possible and advice to remain active is important. The La Grande 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 without
any concerning underlying issue, exercise, manual
therapy, heat and NSAIDs are recommended. For chronic low back
pain sufferers without 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 suggested
due to research disclosing uselessness.
(5) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC offers La Grande chiropractic care including Cox
Technic flexion distraction decompression treatment that is research-documented
to be successful for La Grande back pain relief.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Roy Siegel on the Back Doctor’s Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
shares how Cox Technic relieves back pain for his performing arts
patients without drugs so they can continue performing!
Schedule your La Grande chiropractic appointment
with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC today. The opioid epidemic may be curbed for
La Grande back pain sufferers who choose La Grande
chiropractic care at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC…and chiropractic may become the opioid-alternative news!