So, let’s say you are managing some nagging pain with some over-the-counter meds, or a little prescription here and there. If you had a heart a attack or stroke, you, and perhaps your doctor would think they were entirely unrelated. The FDA says, more strongly than ever, that those pain meds may be a big part of the cause,in some people.
(See more details on the FDA ruling below.)
So, what do you do with the pain? Common pain issues we deal with are Headache, Abdominal, Neck, and Leg, but today let’s use back pain as an example.
- Back Pain (more info.): The first thing we do is diagnose the source of the pain. Most people over forty think that the cause is arthritis. Well, that is one of the “5 Medical Myths that Keep You in Pain.” In fact, that is why so many people take NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory meds). Did you know that 52% without back pain have disc bulges and degeneration of the discs?(link) At our office, we do an exam to determine if the pain source is the disc or the sacroiliac joint and if the problem lack of motion (fixation) or too much motion (instability). We also address muscle support function, muscle trigger pint toxicity. Finally, we feel it is critical to help you work through discovering and addressing activities at home, work, and play that may be contributing.
In 2005, the FDA added a warning to many of these pain-relieving meds, saying that they may put you at increased risk for stroke or heart attack. That sounds bad.
Now, they have decided that
Straight from the FDA website and hot off the press today:
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA strengthens warning that non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause heart attacks or strokes (link)
- The risk of heart attack or stroke can occur as early as the first weeks of using an NSAID. The risk may increase with longer use of the NSAID. The higher the dose the higher the risk is.
- NSAIDs can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in patients with or without heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. A large number of studies support this finding,…
- Patients treated with NSAIDs following a first heart attack were more likely to die in the first year after the heart attack…
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are available by prescription and over-the-counter (OTC). They are used to relieve fever and pain, such as those associated with headaches, colds, flu, and arthritis. Examples of prescription NSAIDs include ibuprofen(Advil, Motrin), naproxen(Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac, and celecoxib.
References:
- FDA Warning: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm451800.htm
- Disc Bulge and Degeneration don’t EQUAL Back Pain: http://www.hallamshirephysiotherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Extract-from-Journal-of-Medicine.pdf
