Trials comparing the efficacy and safety of NSAIDs with placebo for spinal pain concludes: "NSAIDs reduced pain and disability, but provided clinically unimportant effects over placebo." "All NSAIDs have been associated with cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks," state the authors, who found "NSAIDs were associated with higher number of patients reporting gastrointestinal adverse effects in the short-term follow-up (i.e., <14 days)."
The authors referenced additional studies showing acetaminophen/Tylenol is ineffective, and opioids appear only to offer small benefits for this condition. When this result is taken together with those from recent reviews on acetaminophen and opioids, 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.
Friday, July 21, 2017
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Treating Lower Back Pain
An updated clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends spinal manipulation and other non-invasive, non-drug therapies as the first options for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain, rather than medications, as previously recommended in the original 2007 guideline.
Based on two background evidence reviews and a systematic review sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the guideline partially updates the 2007 joint ACP / American Pain Society guideline and features three recommendations for all clinicians treating adult patients presenting with low back pain.
Patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment such as massage or acupuncture with spinal manipulation. For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select nonpharmacologic treatment with exercise and multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
In patients with chronic low back pain who have had an inadequate response to nonpharmacologic therapy, clinicians and patients should consider pharmacologic treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line therapy, or tramadol or duloxetine as second-line therapy.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. Dr. Thatcher treats many patients with low back pain and the office accepts most major health insurance. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us by phone. You can reach us at (719) 574-3700.
Based on two background evidence reviews and a systematic review sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the guideline partially updates the 2007 joint ACP / American Pain Society guideline and features three recommendations for all clinicians treating adult patients presenting with low back pain.
Patients should select nonpharmacologic treatment such as massage or acupuncture with spinal manipulation. For patients with chronic low back pain, clinicians and patients should initially select nonpharmacologic treatment with exercise and multidisciplinary rehabilitation.
In patients with chronic low back pain who have had an inadequate response to nonpharmacologic therapy, clinicians and patients should consider pharmacologic treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line therapy, or tramadol or duloxetine as second-line therapy.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. Dr. Thatcher treats many patients with low back pain and the office accepts most major health insurance. For more information you can visit our website at thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have additional questions or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please contact us by phone. You can reach us at (719) 574-3700.
Monday, March 27, 2017
Abstaining from Headache Medicine May Cure Drug Rebound Headache
An article published in the Western Journal of Medicine in 1998, discussed the etiology of some chronic daily headaches. This article recommends discontinuation of the daily headache medicine for some people who suffer from chronic daily headaches. The daily use of medication to treat headache symptoms often causes drug rebound headaches. Furthermore, failure to stop taking daily pain medication in some cases, the article warns, can lead to drug resistant headaches.
A review of the medical literature found that up to 78 percent of patients studied who suffered from chronic daily headaches experienced a marked lessening of symptoms just by cutting out daily use of headache symptom medicine. The study reports that many common prescription and non-prescription medicines, including narcotics, pain pills containing caffeine, or as little as three aspirin per day can cause a rebound headache.
Symptoms from drug-induced, rebound headaches are usually relieved after patients go through a wash-out period of 8 weeks without taking daily medication, although symptoms often improve much sooner. Once a person stops taking daily pain medication they may feel worse for about 2 weeks before the improvement trend begins.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information, you can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have questions or to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
A review of the medical literature found that up to 78 percent of patients studied who suffered from chronic daily headaches experienced a marked lessening of symptoms just by cutting out daily use of headache symptom medicine. The study reports that many common prescription and non-prescription medicines, including narcotics, pain pills containing caffeine, or as little as three aspirin per day can cause a rebound headache.
Symptoms from drug-induced, rebound headaches are usually relieved after patients go through a wash-out period of 8 weeks without taking daily medication, although symptoms often improve much sooner. Once a person stops taking daily pain medication they may feel worse for about 2 weeks before the improvement trend begins.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. For more information, you can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have questions or to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Monday, March 13, 2017
Low Back Pain: Adjustments Superior to Muscle Relaxants
A study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics revealed the superiority of adjustments when compared to prescription muscle relaxants in the treatment of low back pain.
One hundred ninety two patients with low back pain were assigned to one of two intervention groups (adjustments with placebo medicine or muscle relaxants with sham adjustments) or to a control group (sham adjustments with placebo medicine).
After just two weeks, chiropractic adjustments with placebo medicine proved to be more effective than sham adjustments and placebo medicine and muscle relaxants and placebo adjustments in reducing low back pain. Overall, further improvement was seen in patients' low back pain severity after four weeks as judged by each outcome measure. Therefore, if your lower back pain is not responding to muscle relaxants prescribed by your doctor, contact our office.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917. For more information, you can visit our website: thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
One hundred ninety two patients with low back pain were assigned to one of two intervention groups (adjustments with placebo medicine or muscle relaxants with sham adjustments) or to a control group (sham adjustments with placebo medicine).
After just two weeks, chiropractic adjustments with placebo medicine proved to be more effective than sham adjustments and placebo medicine and muscle relaxants and placebo adjustments in reducing low back pain. Overall, further improvement was seen in patients' low back pain severity after four weeks as judged by each outcome measure. Therefore, if your lower back pain is not responding to muscle relaxants prescribed by your doctor, contact our office.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917. For more information, you can visit our website: thatcherchiropractic.com. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Old whiplash injury? It's still not too late for treatment!
Whiplash injuries result from indirect injury to the cervical spine and produce a syndrome comprising headache, neck and upper back pain, arm nerve pain, or a combination of these. Often times people with whiplash receive no treatment or the wrong kind of treatment following injury. A study published in The Journal of Orthopedic Medicine entitled A Symptomatic Classification of Whiplash Injury and the Implications for Treatment further explored earlier evidence showing people with chronic (condition had gone on for more than 3 months) whiplash would benefit from chiropractic treatment.
Research!
In this study, the objective was to determine which patients with chronic whiplash would benefit from chiropractic treatment. The study design recognized three groups of patients. Group 1 consisted of patients with isolated neck pain associated with restricted neck movement. Group 2 consisted of patients with neurological symptoms or signs associated with a restricted neck movement. Group 3 comprised patients who described an unusual group of symptoms with a bizarre distribution.
Outcome...
The outcome of this study revealed that 72% of group 1 benefited from spinal manipulation and 94% of group 2 benefited from the same treatment. However, only 27% of the group 3 patients improved following treatment. The results of this study seem to confirm the efficacy of chiropractic, along with other previous research, in the treatment of chronic whiplash injury. The authors of this study have documented through their literature review that chiropractic has been proven effective in the treatment of chronic whiplash.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Research!
In this study, the objective was to determine which patients with chronic whiplash would benefit from chiropractic treatment. The study design recognized three groups of patients. Group 1 consisted of patients with isolated neck pain associated with restricted neck movement. Group 2 consisted of patients with neurological symptoms or signs associated with a restricted neck movement. Group 3 comprised patients who described an unusual group of symptoms with a bizarre distribution.
Outcome...
The outcome of this study revealed that 72% of group 1 benefited from spinal manipulation and 94% of group 2 benefited from the same treatment. However, only 27% of the group 3 patients improved following treatment. The results of this study seem to confirm the efficacy of chiropractic, along with other previous research, in the treatment of chronic whiplash injury. The authors of this study have documented through their literature review that chiropractic has been proven effective in the treatment of chronic whiplash.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Friday, February 24, 2017
Low Back Pain? ... It's commonly a Sacroiliac Syndrome
What is it?
The sacroiliac joints are located on either side of the tailbone (sacrum) where it meets the pelvic bones. Most people refer to the sacroiliac joint as their "hip." A problem with the sacroiliac joint is referred to as a "sacroiliac syndrome." This syndrome often comes as a result of pelvic joint and ligament sprain as a result of sudden injury or movement. Sacroiliac Syndrome can also develop without a particular event. In other words, the pain starts out of nowhere. Results can be severe ligament and muscle injury and the inability to stand up straight without sharp pain in the lower back. At times the pain can radiate into the leg(s).
Sacroiliac Syndrome accounts for approximately 25% of all low back problems.
How can I fix the problem?
Actually, following a detailed examination to confirm the diagnosis, the treatment is very quick and very effective. The standard of care for this condition is exercise, stretching, and manipulation to the sacroiliac joints. On occasion, physical therapy modalities are necessary in the early stages of a new problem.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information and if you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
The sacroiliac joints are located on either side of the tailbone (sacrum) where it meets the pelvic bones. Most people refer to the sacroiliac joint as their "hip." A problem with the sacroiliac joint is referred to as a "sacroiliac syndrome." This syndrome often comes as a result of pelvic joint and ligament sprain as a result of sudden injury or movement. Sacroiliac Syndrome can also develop without a particular event. In other words, the pain starts out of nowhere. Results can be severe ligament and muscle injury and the inability to stand up straight without sharp pain in the lower back. At times the pain can radiate into the leg(s).
Sacroiliac Syndrome accounts for approximately 25% of all low back problems.
How can I fix the problem?
Actually, following a detailed examination to confirm the diagnosis, the treatment is very quick and very effective. The standard of care for this condition is exercise, stretching, and manipulation to the sacroiliac joints. On occasion, physical therapy modalities are necessary in the early stages of a new problem.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917 near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information and if you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Automobile Passengers Injured in Minor Collisions?
Health care providers of many fields have long known injuries are common in what seems to be minor collisions. The Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation published the article Clinical Response of Human Subjects to Rear-End Automobile Collisions confirming this observation with scientific methods.
What the Research Says...
In this study, unsuspecting human beings were lap/shoulder belted into a Honda Accord, a curtain was hung directly behind the Accord and the subjects were given ear plugs so that the collision would be a surprise, and then a Volvo station wagon smashed into the Accord from behind at 2 1/2 and 5 miles per hour. The study showed that many of the crash subjects hurt following the impact and, even for those who did not have pain or symptoms, they had measurable clinical deficits, comparing pre-accident with post-accident examinations.
What Should Accident Victims Do?
Everyone involved in an automobile accident is not injured. However, the research indicates that individuals involved in a motor vehicle accident, whether or not they are having pain or symptoms, should be examined by someone familiar with these types of injuries.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment with us, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
What the Research Says...
In this study, unsuspecting human beings were lap/shoulder belted into a Honda Accord, a curtain was hung directly behind the Accord and the subjects were given ear plugs so that the collision would be a surprise, and then a Volvo station wagon smashed into the Accord from behind at 2 1/2 and 5 miles per hour. The study showed that many of the crash subjects hurt following the impact and, even for those who did not have pain or symptoms, they had measurable clinical deficits, comparing pre-accident with post-accident examinations.
What Should Accident Victims Do?
Everyone involved in an automobile accident is not injured. However, the research indicates that individuals involved in a motor vehicle accident, whether or not they are having pain or symptoms, should be examined by someone familiar with these types of injuries.
Thatcher Chiropractic is located at 3535 American Drive near the intersection at Austin Bluffs Parkway and Academy Boulevard in Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917. You can visit our website, thatcherchiropractic.com, for more information. If you have additional questions or wish to schedule an appointment with us, please feel free to contact us by phone at (719) 574-3700.
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