New study – Paracetamol (Tylenol) doesn’t work for lower back pain
Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) does not stop lower back pain or help the ache of arthritis and doctors should consider prescribing exercise instead, a major review has found.
Researchers looked at 13 randomised controlled studies that looked at the effects of paracetamol use compared with a placebo. The team led by The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney analysed what effect paracetamol had on the reduction of pain intensity, improvement of disability and quality of life, as well as safety and patient adherence, compared to a placebo.
Paracetamol was found to be no better than placebo for lower back pain, and have “small but not clinically important benefits” for people with osteoarthritis.
Paracetamol was also shown to be associated with higher risk of liver toxicity in patients.
The study authors said their review should inform clinical and policy for those who suffer from lower back pain and osteoarthritis.
http://medvideos.org/video/189/new-study-paracetamol-doesn-t-work-for-lower-back-pain
In viewing the interview with the physician, I was most struck by the fact that she noted that most back pain is from non specific causes. This implies that most back pain is not from causes identified on MRIs such as stensosis, herniated discs, degenerative disc disease or arthritis. The perverse part of this statement is she is saying that the medical establishment is incapable of understanding the cause of pain for most back pain cases. “Nonspecific” cannot be seen in any other light than “unknown”. So here is the clearest presentation as to why pain is not resolved in the long term and mechanisms such as the use of analgesics like Tylenol are promoted. They are not intended to resolve the cause of the lower back pain because it is not understood what that mechanism is so the goal is to simply try to mask the symptom understanding full well that the chances of the pain returning are extremely high since the cause was never addressed.
The Yass method gives you the ability to identify which tissue is emitting the pain signal so the right treatment can be provided to resolve the distress of that tissue which ends the need for the pain signal to be elicited. Follow the Yass Method and the use of medications like Tylenol to attempt to mask your symptoms will become obsolete.