Risky opioids are no better at controlling chronic back or arthritis pain than non-opioid drugs, including Tylenol or Motrin, new research finds. With opioid overdose deaths rising in the United States, the findings suggest addictive medications like oxycodone (OxyContin) or morphine don’t have to be the first choice against crippling arthritis pain.

People with chronic low back pain might get “modest, short-term pain relief” from opioids. But when it comes to long-term treatment, evidence to support the effectiveness of opioids is “lacking.”

That’s the conclusion of an analysis by JAMA Internal Medicine (“Efficacy, Tolerability, and Dose-Dependent Effects of Opioid Analgesics for Low Back Pain,” May 23, 2016), after reviewing the results of 20 trials that included nearly 8,000 participants.

Failed back surgery (continued low back and leg pain after surgery) is relatively common according to a new report from the Boston University School of Medicine. With each reoperation, success, as defined by pain reduction, becomes less likely and most patients do not improve. However, preliminary studies using a simple procedure to remove scar tissue or adhesions suggests a new treatment could help those with post-surgical, chronic low back pain.

New research has found home-based video-game exercises can reduce chronic low back pain in older people by 27 percent, which is comparable to benefits gained under programs supervised by a physiotherapist. The study investigated the effectiveness of self-managed home-based video game exercises in people over 55 years using a Nintendo Wii-Fit-U.

In a 2015 Gallup poll of more than 5,400 Americans, 60 percent believed chiropractic is an effective treatment for neck and back pain. It’s true that chiropractors manipulate, or adjust the spine to improve pain and mobility, but the benefits may extend beyond the back. By using varying degrees of force in an effort to adjust misaligned joints, chiropractors try to improve the relationship between the spine and nervous system, which they believe may affect the function of all the organs and systems in the body.

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise.

Q: Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

Q: Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?

Q: Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

Q: Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?

An extensive review of 25 randomized clinical trials found “little evidence” that invasive surgery was more effective than sham or placebo procedures in reducing chronic pain. The study was published in the journal "Pain Medicine".

An estimated 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, with costs estimated at more than $500 billion annually. With the development of new minimally invasive procedures, Americans spent an estimated $45 billion on surgery for chronic low back pain. Non-opioid treatments, like surgery, are being increasingly used.

A recent study in the Journal of Public Health indicates that adolescents who experience frequent back pain are also more likely to use tobacco and alcohol, and report problems like anxiety and depression.

A new study in the Journal of Public Health indicates that adolescents who experience back pain more frequently are also more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and report problems like anxiety and depression.

During adolescence, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (pain arising from the bones, joints or muscles) in general, and back pain in particular rises steeply. Although often dismissed as trivial and fleeting, adolescent back pain is responsible for substantial health care use, school absence, and interference with day-to-day activities in some children.