New research on lower back pain
Over the years there have been many approaches to treating low back pain. Traditional medical approaches have included the use of drugs, injections, and surgery. However, a recent American College of Physicians (ACP) research study published in the 2017 Annals of Internal Medicine has just released new guidelines advising a non-surgical, non-drug approach.
One of the main concerns in the United States is the increasing use of opioid medications that cause addiction, overdose, and suicide. Opioids including Percocet, OxyContin, and hydrocodone have been inappropriately prescribed in some cases for back pain. The new ACP guidelines advise against so-called “low-value treatments,” such as doctors prescribing opioid drugs.
Instead, the ACP recommends nonpharmacologic approaches. These include non-drug treatments such as spinal manipulation, which is typically performed by chiropractors, acupuncture, massage, tai chi, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
According to Dr. Roger Chou, professor of medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine and lead author of the new reviews on back pain treatment: “The most important change is prioritizing logical therapies not formal ones that use those first instead of medication. “This is the first guideline to really take this stance.”
The ACP guidelines also initially discourage patients from undergoing MRIs for low back pain. The study notes that MRIs will typically not reveal findings relevant to the cause of low back pain.
Low back pain that lasts less than four weeks is considered acute. Low back pain that lasts up to 12 weeks is considered subacute. Low back pain that persists for more than 12 weeks is considered chronic. In all cases, it is not advisable to give in to total bed rest. Gentle activity such as regular walking every day and appropriate gentle stretching are most effective.
The ACP recommends physical measures such as chiropractic spinal manipulation, also called chiropractic spinal adjustments.
Chiropractors are licensed as physicians. His education includes typical college courses followed by five years at a chiropractic college. After this, they must pass national boards and become licensed in individual states in the US Chiropractors then take continuing education classes for further training.
Many recognized and responsible insurances cover the initial evaluation by a doctor of chiropractic and treatments such as chiropractic spinal adjustments, physiological therapies and corrective exercises. Numerous research studies have shown that this type of therapy is beneficial for sufferers of acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain.
By recommending non-surgical and non-drug measures for the treatment of low back pain, guidelines from the American College of Physicians published in the Annals of Internal Medicine have made a substantial change in the traditional prioritization of low back pain treatment.