Painkillers - no good for back pain?

You may have seen recent articles saying that ibuprofen is not effective for relieving low back pain - similar articles have also been written about paracetamol in the past. So what does this mean for back pain sufferers?

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First of all we need to understand what the study was looking at. The study compared the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) against a placebo. It in fact found that NSAIDs did relieve pain, however it did not relieve it a significant amount more than the placebo group. So while around 1 in 6 people will experience a reduction in pain with NSAIDs, some people may find it beneficial to explore other options.

A summary of the study can be found HERE.

At Gillingham Chiropractic we see patients on a daily basis who say the usual over the counter painkillers do not touch their pain, or patients who prefer not to take painkillers; while we are not encouraging you to clear out the medicine cabinet (in fact in some cases we advise the use of painkillers), there are alternatives for those who need/want it.


Drug free alternatives:

  • TENs machine: this uses an electric current to block pain signals from reaching the brain

  • Acupuncture/dry needling: a known pain reliever and also good at relaxing painful trigger points in muscles

  • Spinal manipulation/mobilisation: safe and effective at treating stiff and painful joints

  • Massage: not only great for treating current pain but can also be used regularly prevent future injuries

  • Walk: long gone are the days we were told to lie down and do as little as possible with a bad back, keep moving!

  • Stretch: work a few stretches into your daily routine to keep loose and mobile

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5 Myths about Chiropractic

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Ice Vs Heat