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Easing Pain with Non-Opioid

Read more about easing pain with non-opioids.
Required Reading

  • Hofheinz, E. (2018). Patients Underusing Non-Opioid Pain Relievers.

A study conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers, published in Anesthesia & Analgesia, reveals that patients undergoing joint and spine surgeries are not fully utilizing over-the-counter pain medications alongside prescribed opioids. The study involved 140 adult inpatients at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, with 35% using opioids before surgery. Follow-ups at one and six months showed that many patients who stopped opioid therapy still possessed unused opioids, with unsafe storage and disposal practices prevalent. The study underscores the underutilization of non-opioid pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which can offer comparable or better pain relief with fewer side effects than opioids. The lead author, Dr. Mark Bicket, emphasizes the importance of orthopedic surgeons prescribing and recommending non-opioid medications, highlighting their effectiveness and safety compared to opioids.

https://ryortho.com/breaking/patients-underusing-non-opioid-pain-relievers/

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Palliative Care: Pain Management for your Patients

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