Using Tramadol for Back Pain Relief

One type of pain that a lot of people get is back pain. 
Some tinier injuries for example pulling a muscle or straining the back can bring on pain. 
Back pain relief for these types of hurt can be helped with some anti-inflammatory products. 
The problem with back pain is that just about everyone has had it at some time. 

Low back pain is a major cause of pain, disability and cost to individuals, their families and society in general. 

Up to 85% of the general population will experience low-back pain at some point in their lives. 
In most cases, the pain eases within four to six weeks and individuals are able to return to their normal activities. 

However, by some estimates, in up to 30% of the cases, the pain will persist for up to a year or longer.

Opioids are pain relievers that act on the central nervous system. 
If used over a long period of time, they may become habit-forming. 

Opioids are used to relieve pain in a growing number of conditions, including the treatment of chronic low-back pain (LBP).

We included three studies (908 participants) that compared opioids against a placebo 
(fake medication). 

On average, those receiving tramadol, an atypical weak opioid, reported more pain relief and less difficulty performing their daily activities in the short-term than those who 
received a placebo. In a fourth study (36 participants), on average, those receiving an opioid, 

either morphine or a morphine-derivative, reported little or no difference in terms 
of pain relief in the short-term compared with those who received a non-steroidal 

anti-inflammatory medication (naproxen). In general, there was little or no difference 
between the two groups in their ability to perform daily activities.

There still remains little evidence in the medical literature to address the concerns 
of physicians and patients regarding the effect of opioids on pain intensity, improved 
function and risk of drug abuse. 

The trials that do exist suggest that a weak opioid reduces pain but has minimal effect on function. Side effects were more common with opioids but not life-threatening. 

The results of these trials should be regarded with caution and may not be appropriate in all clinical settings. 

More high quality studies are needed to address the benefits and risks of long-term 
opioid use in chronic LBP, their relative effectiveness compared with other treatments 
and to better understand which patients may be most suitable for this type of intervention.