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Treatment
Pain Killers (Analgesics) |
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At the most basic level, all back pain is caused
by damage to the nervous system – the nerves simply produce pain in response to a
harmful event (thereby alerting the brain to the problem). The pain is detected by special
receptors in the body, and then transmitted, usually via the spinal cord, to the brain.
Different painkillers have their own, individual way of operating, but, in essence, they
all prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. Aspirin and ibuprofen, for example,
block the formation of chemicals (known as prostaglandins) that stimulate the pain
receptors in the body – and without this, the pain signal isn’t produced in the
first place.
Local anaesthetics, such as Novocaine, provide pain relief by preventing the transmission
of the pain signal, from the receptors to the brain – the signal is produced, but it
doesn’t go anywhere.
Finally, morphine and other opiate drugs mimic the effects of naturally occurring brain
chemicals (endorphins, for example) that alter our perception of pain, making it appear
less noxious – in essence, the signal gets through to the brain, but it’s
interpreted differently. |
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Efficacy
By their very nature, analgesics only work for a short period of time – hence, to
manage long term (or chronic) back pain, they need to be taken frequently. As a result,
patients often develop a tolerance for the drug in question (an effect known as down
regulation), and this leads them to seek stronger, or more frequent medication.
Side effects and drug dependency are also relatively common. For example, in a study
conducted at the University of Toronto into the effects of long-term codeine use, 40% of
patients were found to exhibit drug dependence, as defined by DSM-IV criteria (Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition™). 67% sought help for
mental health problems, most commonly depression. They concluded that ‘long-term
codeine use is strongly associated with dependence’, and that ‘depression and
depressive symptoms are common’.
Source: Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 19: 373-376 (1999); Dept. of
Pharmacology, University of Toronto. |
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Conclusions
Painkillers are the most popular treatment for the symptoms of back pain: they are readily
available, easily consumed and relatively cheap; doctors are also likely to prescribe
them.
However, they only work for short periods of time – to manage long-term back pain
they must be taken frequently. Tolerance, drug dependency and side effects are relatively
common. They do not treat the causes of back pain. |
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Price
Approximately: £15 for 100 tablets (200mg ibuprofen + 12.8mg codeine phosphate).
Note: Although individual packets are relatively cheap, the cumulative cost of
long-term use is considerable. For example, taking 4 tablets a day, every day, translates
into a cost of over £200/year (the maximum recommended dose of commercially available
tablets is six every 24 hours). |
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