What Really Gets Rid of Back Pain?
Survey: Patients dissatisfied with over-the-counter pain medication and chiropractic care
An apparently straightforward medical question causes heated debate among doctors—and the answer affects their patients.
"What is the best way to treat back pain?"
Despite countless years of fine research into treating back pain, doctors and medical specialists continue to disagree over which treatments to prescribe.
This lack of consensus often leaves patients confused. Which medical expert should they listen to? Surgeons? Chiropractors? Physical therapists? Massage specialists? Or perhaps they should try acupuncture or steroid injections? The list of treatment options is long, complex, and perplexing.
A new national survey conducted by SpineUniverse helps patients cut through the confusion and ask informed questions about their own treatment. While the research results must never replace the advice of a medical professional, they are a useful tool to help patients ask informed questions about their own pain treatment.
SpineUniverse recently presented patients with a list of treatment options:
- Acupuncture/Acupressure
- Chiropractic
- Exercise (Yoga, Weight Training, Swimming, etc.)
- Herbal Remedies
- Injections (e.g., epidural steroid injections)
- Massage
- Over-the-counter Pain Medication (e.g., Tylenol)
- Prescription Pain Medication
- Physical Therapy
- Surgery
- Weight Loss
Using a scale ranging from Very Dissatisfied to Very Satisfied, patients were asked to rate their satisfaction with the outcome of each treatment they tried: Did it relieve their pain?
The results were surprising—and controversial.
Back Pain Treatment Options Results
Remarkably, several of the most common and traditional back pain treatments left a majority of patients who tried them dissatisfied—or even very dissatisfied. Over-the-counter pain medications, chiropractic care, and injections were all in the top 5 for high levels of patient dissatisfaction.
In fact, over-the-counter pain medication was the #2 most unhelpful treatment—and that's a surprise. Over-the-counter pain medications are typically one of the first treatments people try, an idea that was supported by the survey results: more people tried this treatment option than any other option, excluding exercise.
When people wake up with pain or when pain flares up throughout the day, they'll turn to the medicine cabinet to find temporary pain relief. They'll grab Advil or Aleve or Tylenol and hope that it'll reduce the pain so that they can get through the day.
However, SpineUniverse's survey results seem to indicate those over-the-counter pain medications aren't really helping—or they aren't helping enough for people with back pain. 71.2% of people who tried them were dissatisfied or worse with the result.
Interestingly, prescription pain medication had the highest patient satisfaction level: 61.1% of people who had tried this treatment option were satisfied or better with the result.
Two of the other treatments with the highest satisfaction ratings are the lowest cost and easiest to implement: exercise and weight loss both satisfied 58% of those respondents who tried these options. Conveniently enough, these two options often go hand-in-hand. Exercise more and increase your total fitness level, and you'll most likely lose weight. Since there's a connection between being overweight and having back pain, starting a healthy exercise habit is a win-win.
And the best news for patients: massage satisfied 60.4% of respondents. Since many cases of back pain are the result of muscle sprain or strain, it makes sense that a massage would help. A good massage—done by a qualified massage therapist—thoroughly relaxes the muscles and increases blood circulation (which will help the muscles heal).
End Result for Patients
No treatment should ever be dismissed, as everyone's pain and condition is different.
Some people found relief with every one of these treatment options. Regardless
of the numbers, patients shouldn't rule out a treatment option: it just may
be the option that works for them.
However, the high percentage of patients dissatisfied with several mainstream treatments, including chiropractic care and injections, raises concern. These treatments undoubtedly benefit many patients, so they shouldn't be dismissed entirely.
Instead, these survey results underscore the importance of why patients should carefully question their medical professional before starting a treatment. Patients deserve to know how likely it is that the treatment will be effective for their condition.
And when all is said and done, it is encouraging to know that massage garners such high patient satisfaction. Perhaps now we all have an excuse for extra visits to the spa.
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This information is not designed to replace a physician's independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions or back problem. SpineUniverse does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of the SpineUniverse.com site is conditional upon your acceptance of our User Agreement
with a low pain threshold. I have 4 herniated and
1 bulging disc and I laugh at someone claiming they hgave "real PAIN" that was curtailed by a couple tylenol or advil, spare me...
LadyDi
my employer is having a fit. 24years of driving trucks & tractors have takin a toll on me.
Any one have luck at all with surgery??
Anti-Inflammatories don't help me and am comtemplating the injection route. Of course, always fighting the auto insurance responsible is a real blast. My toes have remained numb since the accident and they only want to pay for a portion of the EMG I had because they don't think I hurt my back after getting run over by a full-loaded 18-wheeler that ran a light!! Too many problems to get into but agree with all the frustrations!
Someone mentioned an antiimfamatory that worked well. I am open to anything.
he falls over his leg/hip gives way and he cant get up on his own,to Michelle I understand,we have had 5 year of this, have you tried gabapentin/neurontin,docs will not prescribe as it is to expencive ASK its done wonders for us
I was in a car accident back in early February of 2008 due to ice. I totaled the car, broke my nose, and broke the windshield with my head due to falty seatbelts. Other than that, I thought I was fine until I developed this horrible back pain. At first it was just an ache I associated with the accident itself, but after months of therapy, my primary doctor, and a chiropractor, I am in the worst pain I have experience in my short 20 years. They are now considering steriod injections, but my father has had back problems and that led us to find a specialist I am seeing in July.
The pain is now so bad that I can barely sit or stand for 10 minutes at a time without feeling a VERY sharp pain up my spine originating in the lumbar region. It lately has developed into a piercing feeling in the center of my lower back, with sporadic shots upward. I am experiencing numbness and pain down my legs and into my toes, and nothing NOTHING has helped and the doctors still have no clue whats causing the pain. I am a college student and carrying 50 lbs. of books, plus sitting for hours on end researching and typing papers...this is really killing me.
So, my question is: have steriod injections worked for anyone? My mother had them done after an ATV accident and the practioner ended up causing spinal/nerve damage that caused her to permanently loose all feeling in her right arm. I have tried the anti inflammitories, EMS, chriopractor (which actually hurts me more everytime I go in), physical therapy, and I'm just at my wits end with the medical field that cannot give me any answers as to why my pain is rapidly increasing.