Back Pain

Muscle Relaxers Don’t Provide Relief for Back Pain, Analysis Shows

Muscle Relaxers and Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common health problem throughout the world. For the past 30 years, it has been the primary source of disability globally, putting a strain on healthcare, society in general, the individuals who struggle with back pain, and who care for those who do. In the United States, lower back pain is the area of highest spending in healthcare, with $134.5 billion spent in 2016. (1)

Muscle relaxers are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United Kingdom and United States. This type of drug includes non-benzodiazepine antispasmodics and antispastics. In 2020, muscle relaxers were prescribed more than 1.3 million times in the UK. In 2016, prescriptions for muscle relaxers exceeded 30 million in the US. (1)

And in terms of lower back pain relief, muscle relaxers are the third most commonly prescribed drug. This issue is that there are conflicting clinical practice guidelines for the use of muscle relaxers for lower back pain between different nations. For example, while the US guideline endorses non-benzodiazepine antispasmodics to treat lower back pain, Belgian guidelines caution against using them this way. And the clinical practice guidelines in the UK do not take a stance on muscle relaxer use for back pain. (1)

This leaves an opening for some questions, such as, why is there a difference in international clinical practice guidelines when it comes to muscle relaxers and back pain? And, how effective are muscle relaxers in actually treating back pain? Are muscle relaxers safe to use for this purpose?

Effectiveness of Muscle Relaxers for Back Pain

An Australian research team had these same questions. So they conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials regarding the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of muscle relaxers for lower back pain compared to a placebo, continuation of usual care, or no treatment. The study is published in the peer-reviewed medical trade journal The BMJ. (1)

The research team quantitatively analyzed 31 trials, which involved 6505 adult participants. These trials investigated 18 different muscle relaxers. (1)

The quality of the trials varied, but the researchers used the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) system to evaluate the certainty of the evidence. And they utilized the Cochrane risk of bias tool and published recommendations from the Cochrane Back and Neck Group to assess study level risk of bias. (1)

Muscle Relaxers Largely Ineffective for Lower Back Pain

The trial review concluded that muscle relaxants are largely ineffective for lower back pain. “Very low certainty evidence showed that non-benzodiazepine antispasmodic drugs might reduce pain intensity at two weeks or less for patients with acute low back pain compared with controls,” stated a BMJ media release. “But this effect is small – less than 8 points on a 0-100 point scale – and does not meet common thresholds to be clinically meaningful. There was little to no effect of non-benzodiazepine antispasmodics on pain intensity at 3-13 weeks or on disability at all follow-up time points.” (2)

Furthermore, using muscle relaxers to treat lower back pain could cause adverse effects. The BMJ media release continued, “Low and very low certainty evidence also showed that non-benzodiazepine antispasmodics might increase the risk of adverse events (commonly, dizziness, drowsiness, headache and nausea) and might have little to no effect on treatment discontinuation compared with controls.” And none of the trials in the review looked at how muscle relaxers affect long-term outcomes. (2)

The researchers do concede that there are limitations to the review. And since the ineffectiveness of muscle relaxers was reported at the group level, it’s possible that some patients received worthwhile benefits from them. (1, 2)

The research team recommends large, definitive, placebo controlled trials to explore the efficacy and safety of muscle relaxers for back pain. They also stressed the importance of gathering data on the long-term effects of muscle relaxers. (1)

Back Pain Relief Without Muscle Relaxers

For people who struggle daily with lower back pain, it might feel like there’s no hope of improvement. Doctors, muscle relaxers, injections, or surgery have provided a solution. But the answer to the problem of lower back pain is simpler than you think!

It’s all about getting to the root of the problem, which is muscle imbalances. And Back Pain Relief 4 Life is the simplest way to solve that problem!

Back Pain Relief 4 Life’s program utilizes eight specific movements that “wake up” certain muscles and restore muscle balance. This jump-starts pathways so vital oxygen and nutrition can get in and help the back to heal.

To get this back pain relief, you don’t have to spend the time driving to and from the doctor’s or chiropractor’s office. You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment or be poked and prodded. You just need a few simple items and the knowledge of Back Pain Relief 4 Life’s eight specific movements.

For many people who have used Back Pain Relief 4 Life, just two sessions deliver extraordinary results. The sessions only take 20 minutes a day, and all you need is a place to lie down, a pillow, and a chair. 

You can use the program at any time, in any place. And you’ll feel empowered to heal your back pain.

Back Pain Relief 4 Life

When you purchase the Back Pain Relief 4 Life program for $67, you get all of this:

• Back Pain Relief 4 Life Core Videos DVD
• Bonus: 10 Targeted Coaching Video Sessions For Back Pain Relief
• Bonus: Free One on One Coaching
• Bonus: The “Begin Your Day” Video Program
• Extra Bonus: Quick Follow Along Videos With Music
• Extra Bonus: Instant Access To The Videos Online

The program’s creators are so confident in its effectiveness that if you’re not completely happy, they’ll send you a complete refund within 60 days of purchase. They are determined to never have an unhappy client, so if Back Pain Relief 4 Life fails to provide quick and long-lasting relief, they’ll provide a fast and full refund on the spot, with no questions asked and with absolutely no hassle.

In order to find long-term relief from back pain, you have to restore the body’s natural functional movement and muscle balance and allow it to heal naturally. Back Pain Relief 4 Life’s eight movements can help you do that.

Sources:

1. https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n1446
2. https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/muscle-relaxants-largely-ineffective-for-low-back-pain/