Patients with low back pain benefit more from paracetamol than from anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, according to research by Pepijn Roelofs, who earned his doctorate at VU University Medical Center.
Anti-inflammatory drugs account for 80% of prescriptions for low back pain. Until now, few studies compared their effectiveness to paracetamol. Roelofs conducted a systematic review of 65 studies involving over 11,000 patients to evaluate anti-inflammatory painkillers.
The findings reveal comparable pain relief from both, but paracetamol has fewer side effects. Despite this, most low back pain sufferers rely on anti-inflammatories.
Roelofs also examined home care workers, where nearly two-thirds experience back pain annually. Those using a back belt reported significantly less pain and saved an average of €235 per year in healthcare costs.
