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Current Studies Medicines for back pain hurt more than they can help
Many people around the world suffer from back pain. Patients often use a variety of medications to treat the pain. Australian researchers have now discovered that medication for the treatment of back pain causes damage to many people and does not help to improve pain.
The researchers from The George Institute for Global Health in Australia found that many medicines for back pain are more harmful than helping. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases".
Almost every person suffers from back pain in the course of his life. Physicians have now found out that most used in back pain painkillers hardly help, but have strong side effects. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia.com) Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have little benefit
An Australian review of 35 studies involving more than 6,000 patients has found that so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are of little use in the treatment of low back pain. But they cause a number of side effects.
NSAID often causes stomach ulcers and bleeding
Of all NSAID-treated patients, only one-sixth reported a significant reduction in pain, say the researchers. However, such patients suffered about 2.5 times more likely to have gastrointestinal problems. These include, for example, gastric ulcers and bleeding.
Efficacy of painkillers in back pain
Most popular painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen were mostly useless for the treatment of back pain. In addition, the drugs usually produced unwanted side effects. Only one in six patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs achieved a significant reduction in pain. A previous study has already shown that paracetamol is ineffective in back pain and opioids are usually only slightly more effective than placebo, the authors add.
New therapies need to be developed
There is an urgent need to develop new therapies for the treatment of back pain, as the disease affects about 80 percent of people at some point in their lives, the researchers emphasize.
Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce pain only slightly
Author Manuela Ferreira comments on the current study: Back pain is the leading cause of disability and restriction worldwide. Often, the problem is treated by prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs. But our results show that anti-inflammatory drugs actually achieve very limited short-term pain relief, the expert adds. Although they reduce the level of pain, but only very slightly and without clinical significance.
Current medications are not suitable for relieving pain in back pain
When the factor of frequent side effects is considered, it quickly becomes apparent that these drugs are not the answer to relieve pain in back pain, the authors explain. Most clinical guidelines currently provide NSAIDs as the second type of analgesic after administration of acetaminophen.
Official guidelines of the NHS
Back pain usually improves within a few weeks or months. Most people do not even need a doctor or other medical therapist to treat their pain there, the researchers say. National Health Service (NHS) official guidelines suggest that people with back pain should try to stay as active as possible. The experts also recommend anti-inflammatory analgesics and the use of hot and cold compresses.
Exercise programs reduce the risk of developing back pain
Millions of people take medicines that do not work very well and can even cause damage, explains author Gustavo Machado. "We need treatments that actually bring significant relief to the symptoms in these people," Machado continues. It is still better to put a stronger focus on the prevention of back pain. So-called education and training programs could significantly reduce the risk of developing back pain, the experts add. (As)