Rx Meds

Categories

  • Anti-Inflammatories
  • Narcotic Pain Killers
  • Anti-Muscle Spasm
  • Neuro Modulators (Neurontin, Lyrica)
  • Anti-Depressants (Effexor, Symbalta, Celexa, etc)

Often in the non-surgical management of various spinal conditions, prescription medications may be required. Most help in the management of pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, and nerve damage. Perhaps the most common of medications are the anti-inflammatory drugs. Prescription Motrin and Naproxen are still two of the best medications available. But they can irritate the stomach and can cause bleeding ulcers. New medications such as Mobic, Celebrex, Arthrotec, and others can be used with less frequency and are safer on the stomach and are non-habit forming. Sometimes, it is necessary to use cortisone medication such as a Medrol Dose Pack if a stronger anti-inflammatory agent is needed such as in nerve pain from a herniated disc or pinched nerve. Anti-inflammatory medicines work by interfering with the biochemical response to injury.

Narcotic pain killers are often prescribed to manage severe pain as a result of injury, pinched nerves, severe inflammation, and surgery. A whole variety are used today including short and long acting pills, patches, and pain pumps. Narcotic medication in my experience is the most effective when you know that the pain will eventually go away such as after surgery. To use narcotics for the long term control of back and neck pain will lead to a chemical dependency and addiction. The problem is that the narcotic medicine will eventually lose its potency and more medication will be required. Problems such as increased pain, depression, sleep disorders; personality changes, anxiety, anger, and fear begin to emerge along with withdrawal symptoms if the person tries to stop the medicine abruptly. Controversy exists in the medical profession as to the most appropriate, beneficial, and ethical use of pain medication. It deserves an honest and realistic discussion with your pain management physician as to all of the treatment options available, or, the best way to stop narcotic medicine usage.

Antispasmodics are used with varying degrees of success for the management of muscle spasms and sometime leg cramps coming from spinal problems. Most are safe and non-habit-forming but can make you drowsy or affect coordination. Occasionally, Valium is prescribed as a muscle relaxant but can become habit-forming as well.

Neuro- Modulators such as Neurontin, Lyrica, and Depakene are used for certain neurological conditions where there is nerve damage or irritation. These medications are safe, effectively, have few side effects, and are non-habit forming. They are actually in the anti-seizure class of drugs and work by modifying nerve impulses traveling up and down the spinal cord. Conditions such as neuropathy, chronic radiculopathy, herpetic neuralgia, and RSD are some of the conditions that can be effectively treated. It is very important to know that if you take any of this medication, they can never just be stopped. They must be tapered off under the supervision of a physician. Stopping the medication abruptly may cause a seizure to occur.

Anti-Depressant medications such as Effexor, Symbalta, and Celexa are very good medications to help manage the effects of acute and chronic pain. Although listed as anti-depressants, these medication work in the brain to improve the production and release of certain chemicals in the brain that normally make us feel good – serotonin and beta-endorphins. These chemical are Mother Nature’s pain killers and are generally depressed when we are in pain, don’t exercise, sleep poorly, don’t have sex, and when we take narcotic medications. Anti-depressants help to counter act all of these effects thereby helping to control pain secondarily. These medications are not habit forming and are very safe and have added a significant dimension to managing acute and chronic pain.

Rx Meds can treat the following conditions:

Herniated Intervertebral Disc
Facet Arthritis
Spinal Stenosis