Doctors Warn that Long-Term use of OTC Pain Killers can be Dangerous
Dubai UAE: Lower back pain is one of the top reasons people under the age of 45 go to see a doctor, second only to the common cold, according to leading pain experts at a recent medical event in Dubai.
Lower back pain also affects up to half of all people over the age of 60 and is as likely to be accompanied by nerve damage, known as sciatica, as a leading presentation of musculoskeletal (MSK) problems, data presented at the event showed.
Figures from a prevalent study of patients with chronic lower back pain in Saudi Arabia show that 54.7 percent of cases are neuropathic in nature, while 45.3 percent are caused by disorders of the muscles and bones.
"There are different types of back pain. It can be muscular or caused by nerves, and it can be acute or on-going. But it's not, as many people think, just about musculoskeletal pain that can be treated with over-the-counter pain killers," said Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Fattah, an orthopaedic specialist in Dubai.
However, despite lower back pain being a common reason for people to visit the doctor, many in the UAE still suffer from various types of pain for years without seeking medical help, added Dr. Ayman Al Mofti, a consultant rheumatologist in Dubai.
"Pain is a signal to the body that something is wrong. Sometimes it is severe right away and in that case people seek medical advice. But, with the type of pain that comes slowly and gradually, people often put off seeing a doctor, sometimes for years," he revealed.
Seeking the advice of a doctor, rather than taking OTC pain killers is essential, as neuropathic pain and MSK pain require different types of medications and on-going management, Dr. Mofti added.
Furthermore, long-term use of high-dose OTC non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief, can lead to gastrointestinal problems, such as bleeding, warned Dr. Fattah.
"Both physicians and patients should trust that the medication they are taking will be powerful enough to relieve their symptoms and to be safe. Newer drugs to treat musculoskeletal pains such as Celebrex can give swift pain relief with significantly better tolerability compared to older pain killers," he said.
Celebrex is the only COX 2 inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pain and inflammation in those with MSK disorders.
Celebrex has a more superior gastrointestinal tolerability than traditional NSAIDs and has been shown to be safe in relation to the cardiovascular system.
More than 200 orthopaedic doctors, rheumatologists, neurologists, internists and, GPs attended the pain management symposia held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi on June 29 and 30, where they heard presentations and exchanged practice views with leading international pain management experts.
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