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theohiostateq
USA
43 Posts |
 Posted - 04/27/2012 : 09:28:00
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http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/for-back-pain-steroid-shots-no-more-effective-than-placebo/?ref=health&gwh=
APRIL 27, 2012, 9:30 AM
For Back Pain, Steroid Shots No More Effective Than Placebo
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
A randomized trial of steroid injections for back pain has shown that they are no more effective than a placebo.
Because the long-term benefits of surgery remain unproven and pain medicines often have serious side effects, doctors have increasingly turned to steroid injections to treat lumbosacral radiculopathy, a common cause of back pain. The condition stems from damage to the discs between the vertebrae that often leads to sciatica, numbness or pain in the legs.
Researchers tested 84 adults with back pain of less than six months’ duration, dividing them into three groups. They received either steroids, etanercept (an arthritis medicine) or an inactive saline solution in two injections given two weeks apart.
At the end of one month, they were assessed for pain.
Leg and back pain decreased in all three groups, but there were no statistically significant differences among them. The researchers conclude that steroids may provide some short-term analgesic effect, but that the improvement in all of the patients was mainly due to normal healing.
The lead author, Dr. Steven P. Cohen, an associate professor of anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins, was disappointed with the results but said that he still hopes drugs like etanercept might someday be proven effective. But for now, he said, “the strongest evidence for back pain relief is with exercise.”
The study appears in the April 17 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
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lynnl
USA
109 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 10:54:53
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quote:
Originally posted by theohiostateq
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/for-back-pain-steroid-shots-no-more-effective-than-placebo/?ref=health&gwh=
The study appears in the April 17 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
[/quote]
Is that "Annals" or "anals?" 
I didn't read the article. I assume they're talking about long term relief, right?
I had the spinal injections three times years ago. They certainly did give a lot of relief for a month or so. And I think with some people the relief can be more or less permanent. ...at least for a few years. If the pain and fear cycle can be broken it's not hard to imagine longer term relief.
Note: I'm not arguing with the notion that anything more than 3 or 4 weeks of relief has a strong placebo factor at work.
Lynn |
Edited by - lynnl on 04/27/2012 10:56:05 |
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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 22:39:53
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quote:
Originally posted by theohiostateq
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/for-back-pain-steroid-shots-no-more-effective-than-placebo/?ref=health&gwh=
APRIL 27, 2012, 9:30 AM
For Back Pain, Steroid Shots No More Effective Than Placebo
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
A randomized trial of steroid injections for back pain has shown that they are no more effective than a placebo.
Because the long-term benefits of surgery remain unproven and pain medicines often have serious side effects, doctors have increasingly turned to steroid injections to treat lumbosacral radiculopathy, a common cause of back pain. The condition stems from damage to the discs between the vertebrae that often leads to sciatica, numbness or pain in the legs.
Researchers tested 84 adults with back pain of less than six months’ duration, dividing them into three groups. They received either steroids, etanercept (an arthritis medicine) or an inactive saline solution in two injections given two weeks apart.
At the end of one month, they were assessed for pain.
Leg and back pain decreased in all three groups, but there were no statistically significant differences among them. The researchers conclude that steroids may provide some short-term analgesic effect, but that the improvement in all of the patients was mainly due to normal healing.
The lead author, Dr. Steven P. Cohen, an associate professor of anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins, was disappointed with the results but said that he still hopes drugs like etanercept might someday be proven effective. But for now, he said, “the strongest evidence for back pain relief is with exercise.”
The study appears in the April 17 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.
Not surprising at all. There was a recent study as well that found the most common abnormal finding on MRI - a labral tear - was found in a large majority (73%) of patients who complained of NO hip pain!!
here is the info:
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/02/11/chronic-pain-treatment-shouldnt-be-based-solely-on-mri-results/
Exactly WHY are doctors still using this MRI (non)finding as a reason to do hip surgery??
My goodness....
Dr. Zafirides
Kindly,
Peter Zafirides, MD
http://www.thehealthymind.com |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2012 : 10:32:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Zafirides
Not surprising at all. There was a recent study as well that found the most common abnormal finding on MRI - a labral tear - was found in a large majority (73%) of patients who complained of NO hip pain!!
here is the info:
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/02/11/chronic-pain-treatment-shouldnt-be-based-solely-on-mri-results/
Exactly WHY are doctors still using this MRI (non)finding as a reason to do hip surgery??
My goodness....
Dr. Zafirides
Kindly,
Peter Zafirides, MD
http://www.thehealthymind.com
Thank you SO much for that citation Dr. Zafirides! Learning about it has given me a big uplift in hope for keeping my right hip. There's 'nary a day that goes by that someone, trying to be helpful, doesn't ask me why I don't get a replacement. I've had my "bad" hip for over a decade. I've gotten big nocebos from two TMS doctors actually, telling me it was significant arthritis and get it replaced. I've stuck with it through a lot of pain and recently investigated arthroscopy, but been told it was too late for that, replace it. So, I've been stuck between waiting for the surgeons to keep "practicing", until they can clean-up my hip like a dentist, and wishing and hoping for TMS. Recently thanks to being encouraged by Steve Ozaniche's success over his long term TMS and now your citation of this new hip imaging study, my hip FEELS markedly better in two days!!! Maybe there's hope for us old hippies yet, thank you, thank you thank you!
Cheers,
tt
p.s. To answer your question, why are MRI finding used to justify hip surgery? Because a total hip replacement surgery costs out at $50-80,000 . |
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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 00:04:13
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quote:
Originally posted by tennis tom
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Zafirides
Not surprising at all. There was a recent study as well that found the most common abnormal finding on MRI - a labral tear - was found in a large majority (73%) of patients who complained of NO hip pain!!
here is the info:
http://www.thehealthymind.com/2012/02/11/chronic-pain-treatment-shouldnt-be-based-solely-on-mri-results/
Exactly WHY are doctors still using this MRI (non)finding as a reason to do hip surgery??
My goodness....
Dr. Zafirides
Kindly,
Peter Zafirides, MD
http://www.thehealthymind.com
Thank you SO much for that citation Dr. Zafirides! Learning about it has given me a big uplift in hope for keeping my right hip. There's 'nary a day that goes by that someone, trying to be helpful, doesn't ask me why I don't get a replacement. I've had my "bad" hip for over a decade. I've gotten big nocebos from two TMS doctors actually, telling me it was significant arthritis and get it replaced. I've stuck with it through a lot of pain and recently investigated arthroscopy, but been told it was too late for that, replace it. So, I've been stuck between waiting for the surgeons to keep "practicing", until they can clean-up my hip like a dentist, and wishing and hoping for TMS. Recently thanks to being encouraged by Steve Ozaniche's success over his long term TMS and now your citation of this new hip imaging study, my hip FEELS markedly better in two days!!! Maybe there's hope for us old hippies yet, thank you, thank you thank you!
Cheers,
tt
p.s. To answer your question, why are MRI finding used to justify hip surgery? Because a total hip replacement surgery costs out at $50-80,000 .
You are too kind :)
I am glad you found the article worthwhile. Never doubt how amazingly powerful you are, tt. I really mean that. I don't mean this in a new-agey type of way, but, what we think determines what becomes our reality. This is especially true in in TMS. You CAN get better. You must believe this. Because when you do, EVERYTHING changes.
This is the amazing power contained within our thoughts and feelings.
You CAN do this!!
-Dr. Z |
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balto
839 Posts |
Posted - 05/05/2012 : 11:17:31
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What Dr. Z said is so true. Once I was able to make up my mind and truly believed that I am healthy and my symptoms is nothing to be affraid of, the pain, all pains just melt away.
The power of belief is amazingly powerful. |
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Dr. Zafirides
189 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2012 : 15:59:14
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quote:
Originally posted by balto
What Dr. Z said is so true. Once I was able to make up my mind and truly believed that I am healthy and my symptoms is nothing to be affraid of, the pain, all pains just melt away.
The power of belief is amazingly powerful.
Balto,
So true. That is why I always say, "Never doubt how truly powerful you are."
It isn't a catchy phrase. It is absolute reality.
Dr. Z |
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For Back Pain, Steroid Shots No More Effective Tha
