How Pain Killers Harm Arthritis Patients (And What To Do Instead)

If you have pain, why not grab an occasional painkiller?

No, stop, think!

Because a new study reveals how painkillers can be extremely harmful for people suffering arthritis. It’s not just because of the side effects.

In 2015, researchers published a survey of existing back pain studies in Revista de Saúde Pública, a journal of the University of São Paulo, finding that around 20% of people over the age of 39 complain of lower back pain—worldwide.

Very few of these cases involve arthritis, but when it does, it is a condition called axial spondyloarthritis.

Axial spondyloarthritis is a relatively serious problem, as it increases your chance of a spinal fracture late in life—and because it can cause irreversible bone damage and osteoporosis. Thus, it is important that it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

It is possible to see this condition on an MRI scan. The most visible sign is swelling of your spine or sacroiliac joints.

But it is the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that people usually take for normal lower back pain to reduce inflammation and swelling.

Consequently, researchers at the University of Aberdeen wondered whether this widespread NSAID use could hide axial spondyloarthritis from doctors and prevent early diagnosis.

Furthermore, they discovered that many people live with axial spondyloarthritis for 11 years before it is diagnosed.

So, if you’re suffering frequent back pain, you may want to ditch the painkillers for a while and instead insist on an MRI to check if the pain is masking more serious problems.

The good news is that you can reverse all types of arthritis using the 3 simple steps found here…