Surprising New Cure for Back Pain
If you’re one of millions of Americans with back and neck pain, here’s surprising new evidence that fish oil may suppress your pain, eliminating the need for typical NSAID painkillers.
Neurosurgeons at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center had patients with non-surgical spine pain who were on NSAIDs take fish oil supplements daily. The fish oil was so successful that 59% of the patients stopped taking their prescription pain medications, and 88 % said they would continue to take the fish oil to combat back pain.
The researchers concluded that up to two-thirds of people now taking NSAIDs could discontinue them and substitute fish oil to alleviate pain, including back and neck pain. Fish oil’s omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) have strong antiinflammatory activity that can reduce inflammation and pain, they said.
“It’s important for patients to know that safer alternatives to pain medications are available,” said neurosurgeon Joseph Maroon, who conducted the study. He points out that prescription painkillers often have serious side effects, including stomach ulcers, bleeding, heart attacks and even deaths.
The new study suggests that fish oil capsules for many with back and neck pain are a much safer, but just as effective substitute for NSAID painkillers, says Dr. Maroon.
The patients took 2400 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids a day for two weeks and then 1200 milligrams daily after that. The dose of fish oil was made up of 200 mg DHA, 850 mg EPA and 180 mg other omega-3s. (Source: Maroon JC, Surg Neurol 2006 Apr;65(4): 325)
