Neck Pain? Say no to Drugs.

Results of a new study are published in the Jan. 3 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine show that spinal manipulation and home exercise are more effective at relieving neck pain in the long term than medications! People undergoing spinal manipulation therapy for neck pain also reported greater satisfaction than people receiving medication or doing home exercises.

“We found that there are some viable treatment options for neck pain,” said Gert Bronfort, vice president of research at the Wolfe-Harris Center for Clinical Studies at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, MN. “What we don’t really know yet is how to individualize these treatments for each particular patient. All are probably still viable treatment options, but what we don’t know is what each particular patient will need,” Bronfort said, adding that it’s possible a combination of treatments might be helpful, too.

So many of my friends suffer from neck pain. About three-quarters of adults report having neck pain at some point in their lives, according to background information in the study. Neck pain is responsible for millions of healthcare visits each year, and it can have a negative impact on quality of life.

The second group received medications, both over the counter and prescription, depending on their needs. First-line medications included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or acetaminophen (Tylenol). If people didn’t get relief from these drugs, narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants were offered.