Acetaminophen not the Best Option for Relieving Lower Back Pain

Many around the world suffer from the debilitating symptoms of lower back pain. However, a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney found that acetaminophen, a commonly recommended painkiller to treat the issue, is not as effective for treating symptoms as previously thought.

Findings published in the journal The Lancet found that the drug is no more effective than a common placebo.

"The mechanisms of back pain are likely to be different from other pain conditions and this is an area that we need to study more," said the study's lead author, Chris Williams, of the university, in a news release.

For the study, researchers recruited more than 1,600 people who suffered from acute lower back pain. All of the participants were an average age of 45 and were randomly given either a placebo drug or acetaminophen to treat their pain. Researchers monitored their recovery and found relatively no difference between the two groups. For instance, those who received acetaminophen recovered at around day 17, while the placebo group recovered around day 16.

In the future, researchers said they are interested in the potentials of reassurance and counseling to help aid in pain associated with lower back problems instead of drug options. Limiting the use of acetaminophen can also help to reduce the risk of damage to the liver. However, future studies would need to be conducted in order to better determine the effectiveness of verbal comfort as a replacement for pharmacological treatments.

The American Chiropractic Association estimates that around 31 million Americans suffer from low back pain.