The authors found that in terms of effects on back and neck pain, opioids weren’t any more helpful than the placebo.
More people in the opioid group had ongoing pain at weeks 26 and 52 than in the placebo group.
The opioid group had worse mental health scores and more reports of nausea, dizziness and constipation than the placebo group.
Opioids and painThe study authors and experts who weren’t involved in the new study have theories on why opioids weren’t found to be more helpful than the placebo.
“The good news is most people with acute low back pain and neck pain recover within 6 weeks naturally.”The authors studied nonspecific back or neck pain, which is pain with an unknown cause.
Persons:
haven’t, ”, Christine Lin, Lin, Naloxone, ” Lin, weren’t, Mark D, Sullivan, Jane C, Ballantyne, ” Sullivan, ” Dr, John Finkenberg, wasn’t, don’t, Finkenberg, ” Finkenberg
Organizations:
CNN, American Spine Society, University of Sydney, University of Washington
Locations:
Australia, Sydney, San Diego