Opioids, Pain & Spine Health

Back pain is extremely common, is one of the leading causes of disability and reasons for healthcare visits, and accounts for a significant portion of opioid use. Opioids and spine pain are challenging topics that require patient education to properly tackle.

Overview of Opioids and Back Pain

While opioids can relieve acute back pain temporarily, they don’t address the underlying cause of the problem. Getting to the bottom of the pain and getting proper treatment can prevent acute pain from transitioning into subacute pain and then becoming chronic pain. And most importantly, no matter what the cause is, they’re not a good long-term solution and can come with serious health risks over time.

20%
of Adults

With chronic pain in the U.S. use opioids

38%
of Patients

Are still using opioids one year after elective spine surgery.

3-19%
of People

Who take prescription opioid pain medications develop an addiction to them.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), an estimated 3% to 19% of people who take prescription opioid pain medications develop an addiction to them. Addiction to opioids results from changes in the brain that develop after chronic opioid abuse, and are very complex. There is also a genetic predisposition that often contributes to addiction potential.

In addition to the adverse effects associated with opioid dependency and addiction, repeated use of opioids can have significant effects on the body’s systems, including the endocrine, immune, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and neural systems.

Safe doses of opioids will differ depending on the patient’s pain level, medical history, height and weight. Doctors may also use screening procedures when prescribing doses, like the Opioid Risk Tool. This screening consists of five questions that help determine a patient’s risk of opioid abuse by assigning a risk score.

It’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment for your back pain based on your specific condition and medical history. Receiving definitive treatment for an underlying spinal condition before symptoms become chronic can alleviate pain and obviate the need for opioids.

Opioids, Pain, & Spine Health Task Force

There is a national epidemic of opioid dependency. More prescriptions are written for managing spine pain than for any other reason. Therefore, NSHF has created The Opioids & Pain Spine Health Task Force to address the education gap in helping to prevent opioid dependency.

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Education on various aspects of opioids and spine pain will promote shared decision-making between patients and providers as well as the confidence to take an active role in spine care