Anticonvulsants for back pain? That’s insane!

It’s estimated that at some point, around 80 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from some form of back pain (including sciatica, which also affects the leg).

For lots of people, it will become chronic. And that’s when your pain becomes the bread and butter of mainstream medicine.

Ka-ching! It’s time for MRIs, CT scans, and (of course) drugs.

Now, a new study has uncovered exactly what kinds of meds docs are handing out for this kind of agony — and guess what? They don’t do a thing to take away your pain.

For back pain, he latest darlings of the pharmaceutical world are none other than anticonvulsants.

That’s right, meds that people take for mania, epilepsy, and other brain disorders are being handed out like candy for the very common problem of an aching back.

But what makes this even more absurd is that while such useless and risky pain remedies are being given out by the boatload, there are effective and safe treatments for back pain right under docs’ noses… and yet they’re being ignored!

All risk and no gain

When researchers at Australia’s University of Sydney decided to take a closer look at the drugs doctors are using to treat back pain, they found a whopping 535 percent increase in the prescribing of anticonvulsants over the last decade.

Some of these meds’ names may not sound familiar — but others, like Lyrica, are heavily advertised for conditions such as fibromyalgia and diabetic foot pain.

But no matter what they’re called, they’re about as dangerous as drugs can be… and they come along with every imaginable side effect.

Take Lyrica, for example.

To give you an idea of how it can affect you, this drug has the distinction of having its very own Facebook group called “Lyrica Survivors.” It’s where users tell about “brain fog, weight gain, vision problems, dizziness, vertigo, and incontinence.” There’s also the little problem of “suicidal thoughts or behavior,” something even the Lyrica label warns about.

Then, there’s the anticonvulsant “gabapentin,” sold under several brand names, including Neurontin. Similar to the side effects of Lyrica, it can cause blurred vision, dizziness, tremors, depression, and “suicidal thoughts.”

As I said, this new study also found that these risky meds are totally ineffective for chronic low back pain and its kissing cousin, “lumbar radicular pain” (pain that radiates down from a pinched or compressed nerve).

Now, considering just how hazardous and ineffective these drugs really are, how in the world did they become the go-to treatment for a bad back?

That’s a very good question. Perhaps drugmakers pulled out all the stops, giving docs lunches, trips, and other freebies. It’s impossible to say at this point, but what we can say with certainty is that there are plenty of other remedies you can try!

For example:

#1: A chiropractic adjustment is probably the very first thing you should seek out when back pain hits. As I’ve told you, many ERs are using an acupuncture/chiropractic combo in place of opioids — that’s how effective it is!

#2: Acupuncture is also a well-respected and highly effective therapy for lower back pain, especially if it’s due to a pinched nerve.

#3: Massage and heat should also be top on your list for back pain, along with arnica, an herb that’s known for relieving common aches and pains. It comes as a cream or gel to use topically or in a homeopathic remedy to dissolve in your mouth.

And by adding anti-inflammatory foods and spices — ones that include ginger, blueberries, and turmeric — and supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids to your daily diet, you’ll not only be helping relieve aches and pains… but be doing something amazingly healthy for your entire body!

As well, HSI advisory panelist Dr. Joshua Levitt recommends a special stretching routine that he says is great for strengthening your back muscles. And with improved strength, you can expect less ongoing connective tissue damage, less inflammation, less tension, and most importantly… less pain.

Dr. Levitt reveals his secret to conquering back pain in his Pain Fix Protocol, which we recently shared with our HSI subscribers.

“Anticonvulsant drugs ineffective for low back pain and can cause harm, despite increased prescribing” Canadian Medical Association Journal, July 3, 2018, ScienceDaily, sciencedaily.com