PARACETAMOL is the pill universally recommended worldwide to treat back pain but it doesn’t speed recovery or reduce the pain a startling new study has found.
The first ever placebo controlled study of the drug’s use in lower back pain conducted by Australian researchers is likely to prompt the rewriting of official medical guidelines.
Every year around 70 per cent of the population will suffer from lower back pain which is one of the biggest disease burdens in the world.
Associate Professor Christine Lin of the George Institute and Sydney University tested more than 1,600 patients and found the median recovery time from lower back pain was 16-17 days whether patients used paracetamol or not.
In her study published in The Lancet medical journal today some patients in the trial were given regular paracetamol; some were given the drug as required while others were given a placebo.
“We have demonstrated that taking paracetamol does not speed recovery or reduce pain compared to placebo,” she said.
Professor Lin she was “very surprised” by the results especially as the medicine was universally recommended.
“Every set of guidelines in the world recommend you commence paracetamol as the first line of treatment,” she said.
While there is evidence paracetamol reduces fever and relieves pain caused by headaches, some musculoskeletal conditions, toothache and pain after surgery, the mechanisms of back pain must be different, she said.
“We need to understand more about the mechanisms of back pain and why this simple medicine does not work for back pain,” she said.
Professor Lin says the most important option for treating back pain was to remain as active as possible and avoid bed rest.
“Most back pain is not harmful, she says.
Patients could try heat packs to relieve discomfort.
“If that simple approach does not help you can talk to your pharmacists or doctor about other pain medicines, but you do need to carefully follow their advice as these medicines can have serious side effects,” she said.
There was some evidence that a short course of spinal manipulation can help control pain.
If there was no improvement in the back pain after one or two weeks patients should consult their doctor, she said.
Professor Lin said there should be a rethink of official guidelines on treating back pain in the light of her study’s results.
These guidelines all recommend the use of paracetamol despite the fact no previous studies have provided convincing evidence it effective in low back pain.
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/paracetamol-wont-reduce-lower-back-pain-or-speed-recovery-times-says-new-study/story-fneuz9ev-1226999186409
The first ever placebo controlled study of the drug’s use in lower back pain conducted by Australian researchers is likely to prompt the rewriting of official medical guidelines.
Every year around 70 per cent of the population will suffer from lower back pain which is one of the biggest disease burdens in the world.
Associate Professor Christine Lin of the George Institute and Sydney University tested more than 1,600 patients and found the median recovery time from lower back pain was 16-17 days whether patients used paracetamol or not.
In her study published in The Lancet medical journal today some patients in the trial were given regular paracetamol; some were given the drug as required while others were given a placebo.
“We have demonstrated that taking paracetamol does not speed recovery or reduce pain compared to placebo,” she said.
Professor Lin she was “very surprised” by the results especially as the medicine was universally recommended.
“Every set of guidelines in the world recommend you commence paracetamol as the first line of treatment,” she said.
While there is evidence paracetamol reduces fever and relieves pain caused by headaches, some musculoskeletal conditions, toothache and pain after surgery, the mechanisms of back pain must be different, she said.
“We need to understand more about the mechanisms of back pain and why this simple medicine does not work for back pain,” she said.
Professor Lin says the most important option for treating back pain was to remain as active as possible and avoid bed rest.
“Most back pain is not harmful, she says.
Patients could try heat packs to relieve discomfort.
“If that simple approach does not help you can talk to your pharmacists or doctor about other pain medicines, but you do need to carefully follow their advice as these medicines can have serious side effects,” she said.
There was some evidence that a short course of spinal manipulation can help control pain.
If there was no improvement in the back pain after one or two weeks patients should consult their doctor, she said.
Professor Lin said there should be a rethink of official guidelines on treating back pain in the light of her study’s results.
These guidelines all recommend the use of paracetamol despite the fact no previous studies have provided convincing evidence it effective in low back pain.
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/paracetamol-wont-reduce-lower-back-pain-or-speed-recovery-times-says-new-study/story-fneuz9ev-1226999186409
