Pain Relief

Pain Killers Scrutinized after Shocking Death of Michael Jackson

cmaynard — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:55:00 -0700

July 1, 2009
by: Sylvia Marten

It’s been nearly a week since pop singer Michael Jackson’s sudden death from cardiac arrest, and questions still remain as to what led to his death.

According to various news reports, Jackson was addicted to the narcotic pain killer Demerol for more than 20 years and also received daily doses of another pain killer, Oxycontin. According to an unnamed senior law enforcement official in an ABC News report, Los Angeles police were told that Jackson did in fact receive a Demerol injection an hour before his death.

A lawyer for Jackson’s physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, has said that his client did not prescribe Jackson with any of these pain killers, but many medical experts think that Demerol and possibly other drugs played a role in the death.

Whether this is true or not, Jackson’s death provides a sad but absolutely necessary forum to talk about pain killer addiction.

While pain killers like Vicodin, OxyContin, Norco and Hydrocodone are typically prescribed to treat pain, what is often forgotten or not known with patients is that pain killers cause changes in the brain’s chemistry that are not under their control.

More specifically, the brain increases the number of receptors in response to the specific pain killer, and its nerve cells stop functioning. Since the body is receiving opiate pain killers, it stops producing endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers). Consequential degeneration of the nerve cells often auses a physical dependency for these opiates.

What is also not known by many patients is that taking pain killers over a long period of time may actually increase a person’s sensitivity to pain, possibly causing them to up their doses, become addicted and put their health in serious danger.

An overdose of pain killers can lead to respiratory arrest (when breathing slows and stops). Low blood oxygen may then cause the heart to quiver and not circulate blood, and lead to cardiac arrest (when the heart stops circulating blood).

Pain killer addiction is a very real problem in the United States. It has been estimated that more than 4.7 million Americans (roughly 2% of the U.S. population) are dependent on prescription pain killers.

Learn more about pain killer addiction and treatment in the following resources:

[url:808,type=|node|,content=|Pain Medications|]
[url:6639,type=|node|,content=|How Pain Killers Sometimes Increase Chronic Pain|]
[url:1924,type=|node|,content=|Pain Killer Addiction Treatment|].

In related news, Jackson’s death comes at a time when the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) wants a specific pain killer off the market and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering major changes to the use of one pain reliever.

The EMEA has said that the pain killer dextropropoxyphene (known as propoxyphene in the United States) should be withdrawn from the European market because a “significant” number of patients have allegedly been overdosing and dying from it (although the EMEA did not provide a specific number of casualties, according to a Wall Street Journal story).

Propoxyphene (e.g. Darvocet) has been used in the United States to treat mild to moderate pain since the late 1950s. It is marketed today by many drug manufacturers, and the FDA is reportedly considering whether to withdraw this pain killer.

For back pain patients who use or are considering taking a pain medication, especially medications with addiction potential, it is essential to understand and carefully monitor the use of that medicine. Do the upfront research to understand the medication options for your particular type of back or neck pain, and work closely with your medical professional to watch for side effects and risks of dependency. Some medicines are safe for short term use, but become potential dangers when used longer than indicated or in combination with other drugs.

Update: The FDA announced on July 8 that it would not withdraw Darvocet, Darvon and other pain killers with propoxyphene from the market despite calls from one consumer group to remove them. The FDA added that it would require a boxed warning of propoxyphene overdose risks and force manufacturers to study the fatality rates from overdoses.

Lower Back Pain Symptoms and Treatment Options

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:30:17 -0800

Low-Level Laser Therapy Relieves Neck Pain

cmaynard — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:07:37 -0800

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Trigger Point Injections

mlepore — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:13:10 -0700

A trigger point injection is an outpatient procedure designed to reduce or relieve the back pain caused by trigger points. These small knots can form in muscles or in the fascia tissue leading to myofascial pain.

McKenzie Method Practitioner Qualifications

Ben Parr — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:48:27 -0700

The McKenzie Method is well-known throughout the spine community and most surgeons and physical therapists have some familiarity with it. However, familiarity may not be equal to expertise. Patients who are interested in or have had McKenzie Therapy prescribed for them may wish to determine the level of training a practitioner actually has.

Cold Laser Therapy Pain Management Treatment

Ben Parr — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:19:12 -0800

Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue and is thought to help accelerate the healing process. It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality.

Traction

spine-health — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:53:59 -0800

Definition

Traction is a therapeutic method to relieve pain by stretching and realigning the spine. Placing a stretch on the spine separates the vertebrae and helps to relieve direct nerve pressure and stress on the vertebral discs. Cervical traction is a common conservative treatment for a herniated disk in the neck that relieves pain by opening up the cervical foramen to reduce pressure on compressed nerve roots exiting the spinal canal.

Getting Better Care for Your Back Pain

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:55:41 -0800

One challenge with treating back pain is that there are not that many absolute rules. For example, a spinal condition that appears relatively minor can lead to severe back pain, but a very serious condition can be barely painful at all. Similarly, some patients with a spinal condition will develop chronic pain, while others with the same condition will not.

Ultram Pain Reliever

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

More Pain Medication Info

Back/Neck Pain Medication

Muscle Relaxants

NSAIDs

Narcotic Pain Medication

Pain Killer Addition

Arthritis and NSAIDs for Pain Relief

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

Joint pain from arthritis

In general, arthritis is a condition that involves any inflammation of joints. In the back, facet joint osteoarthritis can be a very painful condition. Facet joint osteoarthritis (degenerative arthritis) causes a breakdown of cartilage between the facet joints in the back and generally occurs in adults over the age of 60. When the joints move, the lack of cartilage causes pain as well as loss of motion and stiffness.

Physical Therapy Exercise for Pain Relief

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:18:36 -0800

More Physical Therapy Info

Exercise Ball Therapy

Physical Therapy Benefits

Rehabilitation and Exercise

Core Strength Exercises

Back Exercise for Pain Relief

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:18:36 -0800

One of the keys to recovering from an episode of back pain or surgery, and to help avoid future recurrences of back pain, is to pursue appropriate rehabilitation and exercise. A comprehensive exercise regimen should include a combination of stretching, strengthening and aerobic conditioning of the back and body. This requires a basic understanding of the types of muscles that need to be conditioned.
There are three types of muscles that support the spine:

Physical Therapy for Low Back Pain Relief

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:18:36 -0800

Physical therapy for the low back

Patients suffering from most types of low back pain are often referred for physical therapy for four weeks as an initial conservative treatment option before considering other more aggressive treatments, including back surgery. The goals of physical therapy are to decrease back pain, increase function and teach the patient a maintenance program to prevent future back problems.

Pain Relief with Physical Therapy and Exercise

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:18:35 -0800

Dear Spine-Health Member,

The use of some type of physical therapy and exercise is integral to almost all forms of back pain and neck pain treatment. Sometimes physical therapy and exercise are the first lines of treatment, other times it may help manage chronic pain, or provide rehabilitation after surgery. But did you know that both gentle back exercise and physical therapy play a vital role in relieving pain?

Manual Physical Therapy for Pain Relief

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:18:35 -0800

Hands-on physical therapy

Many patients arrive at their first physical therapy appointment expecting to receive hot packs, ultrasound and instructions on how to complete a series of exercises. These modalities are warranted in many instances and most therapists would agree that exercise is needed to help restore muscle imbalances. However, many therapists now approach the restoration of function from a different perspective.

Costotransverse and Costovertebral Joint Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Rib dysfunction syndromes may cause one or a combination of the following symptoms: upper back pain, arm pain, pain between the ribs, and/or generalized upper back area discomfort. Patients with upper back pain and the above symptoms may be candidates for a costotransverse or costovertebral joint injection to both help diagnose the condition and provide pain relief.

Epidural Steroid Injection Pain Relief Success Rates

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Patients will find that the benefits of an epidural steroid injection include a reduction in pain, primarily in leg pain (also called sciatica or radicular pain). Patients seem to have a better response when the epidural steroid injections are coupled with an organized therapeutic exercise program.

Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Facet Joint Injections

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Facet joints are small joints at each segment of the spine that provide stability and help guide motion. The facet joints can become painful due to arthritis of the spine, a back injury or mechanical stress to the back. A cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) or lumbar (lower back) facet joint injection involves injecting a steroid medication, which can anesthetize the facet joints and block the pain.

Hip Joint Injections for Pain Relief

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:09:59 -0800

Pain caused by the hip joint

Additional Injections Info:

Lumbar Steroid Injection

Medial Branch Nerve Block

Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Injections & Pain Management

Epidural Steroid Injections

Chiropractic Treatment Plan

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:07:08 -0800

More Chiropractic Info

Chiropractic Back Treatment

Spine Decompression

Selecting a Chiropractor

Chiropractic Manipulation

Most chiropractors begin treatment during the patient's first visit, although some may wait until the next appointment at the chiropractic clinic.

Pain Relief After a Vertebral Compression Fracture

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:03:14 -0800

Kyphoplasty for spine fractures

When a painful fracture from osteoporosis occurs in the spine, kyphoplasty is a treatment option designed to help reduce or eliminate the pain, restore height of the vertebral body and reduce spinal deformity. Vertebral compression fractures from osteoporosis are quite common, occurring in approximately twenty percent of women over the age of seventy years old.

Artificial Discs vs. Spinal Fusion for Pain Relief - Patients' Advice: Part I

spine-health — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 00:00:23 -0800

Back-to-Back

Patients share advice about artificial discs and spine fusion surgery
In this section, patients share their insights about how they made the decision to have an artificial disc replacement or spine fusion surgery.

More Disc Replacement Info

Lumbar Disc Replacement

Cervical Disc Replacement

Spinal Disc Pain

Pilates, Yoga, and Tai Chi for Pain Relief - Patients' Advice

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:11:45 -0800

Thoughts on Pilates for back pain

I'm a physical therapist with an L3-4 spine fusion and I also specialize in outpatient orthopedics. You have wonderful questions!

I believe that most back problems stem from people losing control over their spine in general. You have to know your spinal limitations in order to get stronger and avoid problems. Makes sense right?
read more

Pain Relief from McKenzie Treatment

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:47 -0800

Successful treatment of mechanical low back pain syndromes has two dimensions.

The first is the McKenzie exercise activity prescribed based on patient presentation and assessment. The goal of McKenzie therapy is to centralize the pain, or move the pain from the leg into the low back, as low back pain is generally better tolerated than leg pain.
read more

Pool Therapy to Relieve Osteoarthritis Pain

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:04:47 -0800

Practical Point
Some osteoarthritis patients refer to pool therapy as a form of "floating traction", allowing them to stretch their spine and loosen and flex joints in a way that would be impossible on a mat.

Pool therapy for osteoarthritis

Anyone who has slipped into the comfort of a warm bath already has some appreciation for the benefits of pool therapy.

Leg Pain and Numbness from Spinal Stenosis - Patients' Advice: Part II

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:55:12 -0800

Back-to-Back

Patients share insights on the treatment choices they have chosen for spinal stenosis.

Surgery results vary with choice of surgeon

Husband had same-day minimally invasive surgery. Prior to the surgery he could not walk 100 feet w/o sitting. No pain now, plus diabetic peripheral foot pain is gone. After almost 2 years, 6 Rehabs, exercise, I still can't stand erect. Had little pain prior or post surgery. Can stand erect momentarily only before effort makes me slump.
read more

Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:16:20 -0800

Degenerative disc disease refers to a syndrome in which a compromised disc causes low back pain. Lumbar degenerative disc disease usually starts with a torsional (twisting) injury to the lower back, such as when a person rotates to put something on a shelf or swing a golf club. However, the pain is also frequently caused by simple wear and tear on the spine.