The Pros & Cons of Medications For Back Pain
Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi
When it comes to treating back pain, it’s important to understand that every patient and every situation is unique and that it’s in everyone’s best interests to explore all the potential treatment options. Medications and opioids are a common treatment option for a variety of different back conditions, but they aren’t a perfect solution. Today, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of medications for controlling and treating back pain.
The Pros
Here’s a look at why medications can play a pivotal role in the treatment of certain back conditions.
- Reduces Pain – For many, chronic pain associated with their back condition is the worst part of their disorder. Medications can help to mask pain and make everyday life more bearable.
- Allows For Activity – Opioids can reduce pain and make it easier for you to participate in strength training exercises or physical therapy, which can help to treat the underlying condition.
- Easy To Manage – We’re not asking you to drive across town to therapy sessions or meet with a doctor on a regular basis. Medications are a simple form of treatment that is usually pretty easy to manage.
The Cons
- Passive Treatment – Medications are a passive treatment, meaning they don’t actively treat the underlying condition. They can help mask pain, but they aren’t going to be the only treatment option that will get you back to full health.
- Higher Doses Needed – After a while, your body gets used to the opioid and higher doses are needed in order to maintain a certain level of effectiveness. And with higher doses comes an increased risk of complications.
- Dependence and Overdose – Opioids also carry with them the potential for dependence and overdose. You can’t get addicted to physical therapy, but you can get addicted to painkillers, so you need to use them with caution.
At the end of the day, while medications can play a key role in your rehabilitation and recovery, they shouldn’t be the only treatment option you pursue. Medications are best used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, so if you want to give your spine the best chance of recovering after an injury, talk to a doctor about the best ways to manage your pain.
