Opioids Rarely Indicated For Acute Back Pain

Although frequently prescribed for patients with lower back pain recent clinical guidelines by the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society suggest that opioids should be reserved for the minority of individuals with severe disabling pain.  In addition the guidelines warn clinicians of potential risks for abuse, addiction and other adverse events.  

Another recent study by Webster et al. looked at 8443 worker's compensation claims and found that opioids prolonged disability, "after controlling for age, gender, job tenure and injury severity, the findings indicate that receipt of higher amounts or morphine equivalent medications in early treatment was significantly associated with adverse outcomes, including higher medical costs and prolonged disability, higher risk for surgery and continued use of opioids."