Medical News Today spoke about the research with Charles De Mesa, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and chief of Interventional Pain, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Hoag Spine & Specialty Clinic in California, who was not involved in the study.
He told us:
“A high-quality study gives evidence that opioids are no better than a placebo for acute lower back and neck pain. There are simply too many risks such as opioid misuse and no benefit. Even short-term judicious use has the potential to lead to long-term harms including intoxication, addiction, and overdose.”