The opioid epidemic. It’s in
the news. West Des Moines does not2 escape the opioid issue.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows some West Des Moines chiropractic patients
with West Des Moines back pain struggle with opioids that were, at some point, prescribed to assist them in coping with
their back pain and now want to be done with them.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa understands and is ready to help
West Des Moines back pain sufferers get relief without opioid
drugs. The effectiveness of opioid drugs for control of West Des Moines back
pain is questioned while spinal manipulation such as offered at
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is suggested.
WHY OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN
Low back pain burdens a
back pain patient’s life. It is not a surprise
that a back pain sufferer wants a pill to be done
with the pain, a West Des Moines back surgery to remove
the pain’s source now. Sometimes
it is not that easy: the pill may have unwelcome
effects or the positive effects may not last long
enough; the surgery relief may not continue or resulted
in an unexpected outcome. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa values
the role of drugs for pain relief when needed, admires
the part back surgery plays in a West Des Moines back pain
sufferer’s journey toward pain relief and a better quality of life.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa also offers complementary care to those back
pain relief options and, for some West Des Moines back pain
sufferers, back surgery prevention in addition to post-back
surgery rehab and West Des Moines 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 sadly
quite modest. Opioids’ effects on pain reduction and function improvement
are small to moderate and short-lasting versus
placebo. The side effects, serious ones for those who use strong opioids for a
long period of time, were usual. (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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa figures out each West Des Moines back pain patient who comes
for West Des Moines chiropractic care and sets the appropriate
treatment plan to secure 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 fix the problem and not have to take opioids anymore. Reality
shows that of 2491 adults who underwent lumbar fusion back surgery, 1045 needed
long-term opioids before surgery, and 1094 took opioids after
surgery. Of the pre-operative opioid patients, 77.1% kept
using 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% did so
with a higher dose. Of those who did not use 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 West Des Moines
back surgery as the final solution to their West Des Moines
back pain? Lumbar fusion back surgery rarely stopped 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 need to be reconsidered. (3)
ALTERNATIVES TO OPIOIDS FOR BACK PAIN RELIEF
Researchers strive to create guidelines for
back pain relief treatment. These guidelines state that
non-effective treatments
should not be used (systemic corticosteroids, TENS, traction,
electrical muscle stim, benozodiazepines, botulinum toxin injection, etc.) and recommend
that clinicians coach and comfort
patients, guide them to stay active and perform
self-care. Acute back pain patients can do 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 use
exercise, spinal manipulation, NSAIDs.
(4)
West Des Moines chiropractic care at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa fits these guidelines.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa presents a West Des Moines chiropractic
treatment plan of spinal manipulation with
Cox Technic, exercise, rehab,
and more.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Schedule you West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today
with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa. Opioids aren’t the only means to find
West Des Moines back pain relief, particularly West Des Moines chronic
low back pain. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa offers hope for chronic low back
pain relief to West Des Moines back pain sufferers desiring
a way to avoid or escape the opioid epidemic.