30-Second Blog Snapshot:
- According to a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health, long-term opioid use is often ineffective for chronic pain patients, especially in women.
- The study analyzed the effects of opioid therapy on men and women, its level of effectiveness, and whether or not it provided a favorable “global pain status.”
- The chronic pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center discuss results from the study.
Although opioids are an effective tool for pain management, the pain specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center advise limiting the use of these substances to ensure safe, controlled pain relief. As a result, the team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center provides patients with a number of treatment options.
Some treatments fall under interventional pain care, while others are considered conservative treatments options. For severe cases of chronic pain, the team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center may recommend a minimally invasive surgery or regenerative medicine.
It’s important patients don’t ignore the behavioral health issues that accompany chronic pain as well. Many chronic pain conditions cause added stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which should be managed by a highly credentialed pain management specialist. With all of that in mind, it’s important patients seek care from specialists who believe in a holistic approach. Why? According to a study published in the Journal of Women’s Health, long-term opioid therapy many not provide complete or effective relief.
More than two thousand men and women were enrolled in the study. During the study, patients were evaluated and their results were compared to global pain statuses. The results of the study can be seen below:
- Women ages 21 to 44 were more likely to have unfavorable pain statuses (66%) than men of the same age group (40%).
- Long-term opioid use presented women with unique risks, some of which included reduced fertility and health risks to a developing fetus.
- More than 50% of both men and women with unfavorable pain statuses were depressed or not working for health reasons.
To learn more about the study, visit the Pain News Network. Or, to see how Southwest Spine and Pain Center can help control your pain from a multidisciplinary standpoint, call to schedule an appointment today!
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With multiple locations across the state of Utah, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.