Posted on 08/01/2023 2:26:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
A new study conducted by researchers sheds light on potential benefits of chiropractic care for adults with radicular low back pain (i.e., sciatica).
The study investigated the relationship between chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT) and the prescription of gabapentin, an off-label treatment for radicular low back pain.
The researchers hypothesized that adults under 50 years of age receiving CSMT for newly diagnosed radicular low back pain would have reduced odds of being prescribed gabapentin over a one-year follow-up period. Using a retrospective cohort study design, the research team analyzed data from a large U.S. health care network comprising millions of patient records.
The CSMT cohort had significantly lower odds of receiving a gabapentin prescription compared to the usual medical care cohort. The odds ratio was 0.53 (p<0.0001), indicating a meaningful reduction in gabapentin use among patients who received chiropractic care for radicular low back pain.
"We are excited by the implications of our findings, which suggest that chiropractic care could offer benefits to managing low back pain and lead to greater concordance with clinical practice guidelines with respect to medication prescribing," said Robert J Trager, DC. "While chiropractic spinal manipulation is already recommended for low back pain, this study re-affirms its utility and sheds light on its other potential pain management benefits."
As the medical community continues to seek ways to improve patient care, studies like this one contribute valuable insights into the potential benefits of CSMT for low back pain. With this study, the authors build on their previous work, which showed that recipients of CSMT were less likely to be prescribed a benzodiazepine, and other studies, which showed a similar finding with opioids.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
I’m 69 and have lower back pain due to compressed L5/S1. There may be reduced signals going from the spine to the legs. I was prescribed gabapentin. It did reduce the pain, however, I found it difficult to walk. I looked like a drunkard. It took more than a month to ween off of gabapentin. Overall, I wish we’d tried something else. 600Mg/day.
Each patient is different as to work will work to relieve their symptoms. I have had surgery for spinal stenosis.
The procedure was mostly successful, but I still get back pain after mild exertion. I tried a Chiro Dr.
I wasn’t impressed, so I cancelled the second appointment, which I learned later, made the Dr. highly insulted.
I’ll stick with a mix of Gabby/Tylenol/Yoga stretches for now.
<>an off-label treatment for radicular low back pain<>
That’s all you need to know.
I only take 600mg /day but don’t notice the pain reduction. Just easier to get to sleep when taken with another med. I can’t really tell if it does anything but I’ve been told it is powerful and ‘good stuff’. Yeahok.
Surgeon prescribed gabapentin in pre-op for my hernia operation.
I refused.
He didn’t even try to convince me to take it.
Severa medications, including this one cause symptoms in older people of mental decline. One reason I wanted to get off gabapentin is my memory went from not great to noticeably worse. This is the problem with most nerve medicines and sleep medications. Go to google, plug in the medication and side effects. Or, medication and “mental decline.”
I no longer have much mental to spare.
Gabapentin did absolutely nothing for me pain-wise. Only thing that worked for me was radiofrequency nerve ablation. It only took 40 years of suffering before a new pain doc presented the option. Best thing I ever did. Disclosure: I have bad osteoarthritis pretty much in every joint. Likely the result of nasty bouts of Lyme Disease.
Gabapentin taken with some anti depression drugs causes ED
Lyrica is a similar med. I felt less groggy with it compared to gabapebtin. Gabapentin also comes in a long acting formula which doesn’t have the groggy effect.
I was prescribed it for neuropathy.
I had that done in my cervical spine to hold me over till I had my fusion. They did 7 levels. The single fusion is what helped.
radiofrequency nerve ablation
BKMK
Gabapentin, alone, can cause ED
For me, Gabapentin is a miracle drug. It makes me function.
But everyone is different.
“Only thing that worked for me was radiofrequency nerve ablation.”
Where was your pain? The spine doc has mentioned it as a possible treatment for my osteoarthritis-related spinal stenosis. Thanks.
Gabapentin has been excellent for us
Same here — no results from a year on high-dose Gabapentin. My English-illiterate VA doctor insisted it was working and I was lying to get drugs. Spondylosis of L4&5 and S1&2 from a murdercycle wreck. I changed docs and meds, but it took a letter to the head of the Austin VA.
I had extreme major back surgery 2 years ago...had gabapentin 600mg 3x/day after surgery...really screwed up my memory while I was taking it.
The one I used completely misdiagnosed my condition.
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