Opioids don't work so well for your chronic low back pain

[MillCreek]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PainManagement/BackPain/58135

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27213267

A recently published meta analysis study in JAMA Internal Medicine casts doubt on the use of opioids for chronic low back pain. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

That would agree with my experiences


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[K Frame]

We discussed this subject back in October... http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=49884.0

Don't know if the links in that discussion are to the same article or not.

All I know is that I tried the Aleve routine they used to treat back pain and my chronic back pain got a LOT better.

[brimic]

Aleve is my go-to medicine as well.
Its been about 2 months since I've had any issues at all.

[K Frame]

The only problem I have with Aleve is that I have to make certain that my stomach is pretty full, or I'll have issues.

While the Aleve REALLY helped my back get straightened out in October, it's not done much for the knee issues I've been having. Somehow a couple of months ago I twisted that big ligament on the inside of the knee and was having considerable pain. The Aleve didn't touch it. Or if it did, it didn't touch it much.

What has really helped, though, is the physical therapy routine I've been going through. I had a regular medication check in with my doctor, and mentioned the knee issue. He did some mobility and flexing tests and was pretty certain it was just a strain, and not a tear or a meniscus issue, so he sent me to PT.

I've been doing the PT for a little over 2 weeks now, and have been pretty rigorous about the exercises. It still bothers me, but it's a good 75 or more percent better than it was before I started PT.

[HeroHog]

Ya have to take enough codone to damned near knock you out to do any good and that's a poor idea, trust me. Went in this morning and told the Doc my back pain is increasing and becoming a bigger problem. His response? "Well, you're not a good candidate for surgery so there's no point in doing an MRI or anything." He did up my Gabapentin and my dosage of Ibuprofen gel caps (gave me a VA Rx dosage. It's cheaper for me and gets mailed to the house so there is that) and said if I need a refill on the Hydrocodone, let him know.

I am seeing neuro for a brain scan to see about these damned headaches and had a series of x-rays on my aching shoulder today. I have a type II acromion that gives me fits on the right shoulder that has plagued me for over a decade now to the point that I am begging for that big-ass needle in the shoulder for a bit of relief.
 

[MillCreek]

This is a new article, not the one we discussed back in October. 

[castle key]

Risking thread jacking.....

I have used acupuncture for a screwed up neck nerve that caused pain/tingling/numbness in my arm. It did the trick. I have seen acupuncture work well in dogs (including my own) for various issues.

Acupuncture is not a cure all, but it should be considered by those with some pain issues. The veterinary acupuncturist says, "You don't have to believe in it; it's not a belief system. It does work; just not all the time or for everything."

[AJ Dual]

I'm lucky in that I have epic NSAID tolerance.

I take 800mg Ibuprofen chased with 500 of Acetaminophen every morning just to get moving.  My aches and pains at 43 tell me I'm going to travel in my father's and grandfather's footsteps on this one. Although I should be glad my father didn't need his first cortisone injections until he was 67. My own damn fault, I'm a face/side sleeper and my back knees and legs really hate it. But even if you zonk me with drugs and I lay on my back, I'll roll over in my sleep within an hour or so. My wife has had to unwrap three coils of CPAP hose from around my neck more than once.

I'm like a broken record on the wonders of Toradol/Ketorolac, but it's also really handy to ask for it first from jaded ER docs burned out from all the drug-seekers, who'll then pat you on the head and push dilaudid or morphine. 

[Bob F.]

Zorvolex is an NSAID often replacing opiates including MS Contin. Doc gave me some samples when my worn out back flared up. It's really expensive but check Right Rx.

Good luck.
Bob

[RoadKingLarry]

Last time around with my back laying me out I got a prescription for Mobic(Meloxicam) Don't take it often but when I start having problems I'll go for a week or so of it and not only does it make a big difference with the back it also makes the knees and shoulders work pretty much like they are supposed to.
 

[Mannlicher]

might not work for lower back pain, but they are great for my osteoarthritis.  I take the Mobic as well, one 15 mg tablet every other day.  Really has made a difference.

[RoadKingLarry]

A fair portion of my back pain is due to arthritis.

[grampster]

The anti pill lobby (read SJWs) are trying to get the government to further restrict opioids.  They don't like it that chemicals make hurting people feel better.  Why?  Because a small percentage of opioid users become addicted.  Even though some other studies showed that when opioid users didn't need the drug anymore because of some painful issue  being healed, around 99% of them just stopped.  So now the medical world who is now further subjected to the .fedgov because of Obamadon'tcare, responds to the SJWs rather than the earlier studies, put out new "studies" showing opioids don't work all that well and they're being over prescribed which is the song and dance the government is putting out.  And the beat goes on.  Get ready for opioids to be banned.  Thanks for the medical help, Uncle Sam.

All sorts of things don't work or are not effective for all people all of the time.  So what?  That's life.  Some things are pleasurable but are restricted by goobermint edict because a small number of people make life miserable for themselves and others because of it, so....we punish the innocent..... Mr Opioid in this case.  (Sort of the same thing with guns)  All it wants to do is make people feel better, but some just won't or can't and others want to interfere with the ones who are feeling better because of a few abusers and Mr. Opioid gets relegated to the trash heap and a lot of people suffer for it.  We have to be a people of great moral integrity or longsuffering patience because we constantly screw the many to try and help the few who probably don't want the help anyway judging by the number of people in prison having to do in some fashion with opioids.  Maybe if we let them out and stuck in the SJWs???