Posted on 10/05/2024 9:26:57 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Long-term use of skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs) for chronic pain is only effective for certain conditions, such as painful spasms, painful cramps, and neck pain, according to a review published online Sept. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
Benjamin J. Oldfield, M.D., from the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to assess the effectiveness or efficacy of long-term use of SMRs for chronic pain.
Based on 30 randomized controlled trials (1,314 participants) and 14 cohort studies (1,168 participants), the researchers identified nine unique SMRs (11 examining baclofen, eight examining tizanidine, and seven examining cyclobenzaprine). The strongest evidence for effectiveness was seen for SMRs used for trigeminal neuralgia, neck pain, and painful cramps. SMRs used for fibromyalgia, low back pain, and other syndromes were not more beneficial than placebo. Sedation and dry mouth were the most common adverse effects. There was a low-to-moderate risk for bias for randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies had fair to good quality.
"These findings suggest that long-term use of muscle relaxants may only be beneficial for certain syndromes," the authors write. "Clinicians should be vigilant for adverse effects and consider deprescribing if pain-related goals are not met."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
“The strongest evidence for effectiveness was seen for SMRs used for trigeminal neuralgia, neck pain, and painful cramps. SMRs used for fibromyalgia, low back pain, and other syndromes were not more beneficial than placebo.“
I have a friend that was given a prescription for a muscle relaxant and, in no way, would it have helped—and it didn’t.
I told him he had to either level-set with his VA doctor or get a different one.
Some doctors don’t know what they are doing.
That sure wasn’t my experience. Your friend was given one of the newer drugs that sucks. I know from experience. I had lumbar disc herniation since a young man and it bothered me until I retired. It just takes a very long time to heal up. I used Parafon Forte (spelling) and it worked very well keeping you from re-injuring your lower back. It’s only side effects were darkened stool. I don’t believe they make it anymore. It was too effective I guess or the patent ran out.
I have tried muscle relaxer drugs on two occasions and they really helped but they were short term as my back muscles were in knots and they fixed that. Decades ago I pulled muscles in my back and also a few decades later from there started working a office job and the chair was causing my back to tighten up.
I have tried out several beds in several years due to back pain and leg pain. This year I bought 2 mattress’s since July with one being medium-firm that got too soft for me in a few months creating more numbness below the knees plus it had a quilted look on top which created pressure points even though they were soft. The past beds were also creating that numbness.
I have what I think is Sciatica as I could not sit for long without getting numb in the right leg and the left side following. Plus my back would just all of a sudden have sharp pain in the lower back. I have to be careful putting on shoes and getting in and out of a car etc. Move slow when bending so not to trigger the pain.
That is changing now after I bought The Beautyrest Black LX firm mattress. The back pain started disappearing for much of the day and after 1 week I am not getting the intense numbness after hours in bed when I wake up. Much better feeling mattress. It has just the right give, not super firm at all. The mattress in the store was probably laid on by 500 people... and felt better then the brand new one I got but it already is feeling better each day.
The foundation is new too. It is an adjustable one. I can raise the head end up or the end of the mattress up. I found that raising the head end up a bit, I did not need a pillow.
The numbness is mostly gone but feels different, just not as intense. It goes away in 5-10 minutes.
Maybe a new mattress is what people should look into.
Along with a new office chair and a standing desk all helps.
Good post. Sciatica will continue to get worse over time unless corrected. My right leg started to gimp out while walking. A Chiropractor fixed me up. I often hanged from a door sometimes to get relief from back pain. Bent over working on my car put me in tears when I stood up. I had bad right hip pain 2 years ago. Cheap bastage that I am, I bought 3 foam board panels from the Dollar Store (3ftx3ft and about a quarter of an inch thick if I remember) and it worked like a charm. No more hip pain after 3 months or so. The panels are foam sandwiched between paper/cardboard. I just spread them under my hip area below the mattress. Yipee, I can hike for miles again without worry.
I hurt my back yesterday. I moved the wrong way and something in my spine went “POP!”. Excruciating pain. I truly thought I was paralyzed. I couldn’t walk due to the pain so hubby went and got the wheelchair that has been stored away since my foot surgery in 08. Luckily I had some old prescription muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory meds on hand and I started taking them in addition to using cold & then hot packs on my back.
I’m a little better this morning and have graduated to a walker. I’m convinced the muscle relaxers helped and plan to keep taking them. I already had a doctor appointment with my GP scheduled for Tuesday so I guess I’ll get him to send me to a back doctor. Getting old is not for the meek.
I had a script for tizanidine for years and it was always effective when my back spasms hit. I would take 3 pills (total daily dose) an hour apart when I had extreme spasms. When Obamacare came in my doctor quit his practice so I couldn’t get my monthly script. When I would go to a new doctor thay would obly prescribe a 5 day dose (15 pills).
Now I just moke some hugh potency weed wfir the extreme spasms.Basically about once or twice a year. My total recovery time went from a week to 3 days.
I don’t smoke for everyday back pain and discomfort.
#5 I was thinking of buying this Pull Up Bar. I figure the body weight would fix the spine and muscles.
https://www.amazon.com/DlandHome-Station-Equipment-Strength-Training/dp/B0851947FW?th=1
Or one of those new fancy stand alone pole dancing setups, lol.
That’s probably not a good thing for me at my age though.
I have Degenerative Disc Disorder and the disc between my shoulder blades pops even when I use the bathroom.
You creak and groan as you get older... : )
Snap, crackle and pop when you move... : )
Both husband an I have back problems.
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