Two important studies were published in February 2017 for the treatment of back pain.
The 1st was published on-line (e-publish ahead of print) in the Annals of Rheumatoid Disease. The 2nd was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
For years I have advised my patients that pain medicine mask symptoms and have side effects. What I should have advised my patients is that they would have had a similar benefit if they took a placebo instead of medication. The 1st study was a meta-analysis of 35 studies comparing NSAIDs to placebo for pain and disability from spinal pain. The findings conclude that, “NSAIDs reduced pain and disability, but provided clinically unimportant effects over placebo”. In addition, “NSAIDs were associated with a higher number of patients reporting gastrointestinal adverse effects in the short-term follow-up.” This study also looked at other recent studies looking at the clinical value of paracetamol (Tylenol) and opioids for treating spinal pain. The study conclusion states, “it is now clear that the three most widely used, and guideline-recommended medicines for spinal pain do not provide clinically important effects over placebo.”
The 2nd study updated the clinical practice guidelines for low back pain from the American College of Physicians (ACP). It recommends spinal manipulation and other non-invasive non-drug therapies, including massage and acupuncture, as a first option for treating acute, subacute and chronic low back pain rather than medication!
So, how long will it take mainstream medicine to adapt these new ACP guidelines for treating low back pain? How long will it take mainstream medicine to tell their patients that pain meds are as good as placebo for spinal pain? In the 33 years I have been in practice it hasn’t happened yet, even with multiple valid studies documenting the benefits of chiropractic care in relieving pain and optimizing function.
The good news is that there are a handful of MDs who refer their patients to Performance Health Center. Unfortunately this still tends to be the exception. It still amazes me how many new patients tell me during their initial consultation that their MD said they would have to live with the pain. Part of the problem is that MDs don’t learn about chiropractic health care, or other alternatives to drugs and surgery, during their training. I know this first hand. For 8 years, (4 in Vermont and 4 in Massachusetts), Family Practice Residents spent a one day rotation in my office. I would always ask these residents three questions when I first met them:
1-In all you years in medical school and residency what did you learn about chiropractic health care? Nothing
2-In all you years in medical school and residency what did you learn about the musculoskeletal system? Very little
3-How many vertebrae are in the spine? Only 1 resident in 8 years knew the answer is 24.
After spending one day observing me most of these residents were impressed on the variety of conditions chiropractors treat in our offices every day, and patient satisfaction with their care and results. If every family practice and internal medicine resident could have the same experience there would be a lot less medicine prescribed for pain and less people suffering with spinal pain.
So what is the moral of this? Next time your PCP prescribes pain meds for your spinal pain, you’d be better off popping a sugar pill, and making an appointment with your favorite chiropractor at Performance Health Center! For more information about how to get out of pain without drugs or surgery please call 508-655-9008, or email me at [email protected]