Even when minimally invasive techniques are used, spine surgery is a major trauma for your spine and the nearby muscles and tissues that are cut during the completion of the procedure. Because of this necessary damage to the soft tissues and the work that is being done on your spine, you can expect some pain and discomfort in the days and weeks following your procedure.
Everyone handles pain differently, and oftentimes prescription-strength painkillers are recommended or prescribed to help ease discomfort while it’s at its peak. Whether or not you’re looking forward to managing post-op pain with opioids, it pays to really understand these drugs because they can have some dangerous side effects if taken incorrectly. With that in mind, we are going to use today’s blog to talk more about opioids and their role in post-op pain management.
Opioids And Your Back Surgery
We understand the power of prescription strength opioids, which is why we’ve devoted a number of different blogs on the subject. You’ll notice that this blog is mostly full of general information, but you can follow any of the many links included below for a more expanded blog on any of the subjects we touch on below. Here’s a closer look at some of the things you should know about effectively taking opioids following your spinal procedure.
- Avoiding Surgery And Opioids – You can work to avoid surgery and the need to take painkiller medications by really pursuing other forms of non-operative treatment. A number of spinal conditions can be effectively treated with conservative means, so if the prospect of surgery and opioids makes you nervous, look into these five alternatives to back surgery and painkillers.
- I Don’t Want Opioids After Surgery – A number of patients will ask if they can avoid prescription-strength painkillers altogether after their spine surgery. Whether they’ve had issues with medications in the past or simply want to avoid some of the potentially addictive side effects of opioids, they want to do everything in their power to avoid taking prescription painkillers after their operation. You can learn more about effective painkiller management and talking with your doctor about avoiding opioids after spine surgery on this blog.
- Surgery Can Curb Long-Term Opioid Use – If you’re already taking painkillers to help manage back pain, you should know that surgery could help you find relief and wean you off your reliance on painkillers. Opioids don’t treat the underlying issue, they only drown out the symptoms, so they aren’t a great long-term treatment option. However, if you undergo spine surgery and put in the work during physical therapy, you can correct the root issue and eventually reduce or eliminate your need for prescription painkillers to help with your back pain.
- Long-Term Opioid Use Concerns – Finally, as we mentioned in the above section, opioids are not a great long-term treatment option for your back pain. Studies have found that prolonged opioid use can drown out pain in the short term but can actually increase your discomfort in the long haul. Learn more about the possible side effects of long-term opioid use and why you should consider different treatments if you’re dealing with chronic back pain.
If you want to trust your spine care to a surgeon who will ensure that you form a healthy relationship with opioids and help you use them correctly to fuel your back pain recovery, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
