Keywords

chronic lower back pain, opioid use, non-opioid treatment

Abstract

Opioid use is an epidemic in the US costing millions annually. Chronic lower-back pain (CLBP) affects people world-wide and is frequently treated with opioids long-term. Long-term opioid use leads to negative health related consequences, increased risk for depression, negative unintended opioid related side-effects, overdose, and death. The purpose of this article is threefold: 1) to educate PCP on the complexities of CP and negative implications of opioid treatment for CLBP while illuminating the benefits of non-opioid management, 2) to review non-opioid treatment methods for CLBP to eliminate opioids, and 3) to construct feasible options for treating CLBP without opioids.