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If you have pain, why not grab an occasional painkiller?<\/p>\nIf you have pain, why not grab an occasional painkiller?<\/p>\n
No, stop, think!<\/p>\n
Because a new study reveals how painkillers can be extremely harmful for people suffering arthritis. It\u2019s not just because of the side effects.<\/p>\n
In 2015, researchers published a survey of existing back pain studies in Revista de Sa\u00fade P\u00fablica,<\/em> a journal of the University of S\u00e3o Paulo, finding that around 20% of people over the age of 39 complain of lower back pain\u2014worldwide.<\/p>\n Very few of these cases involve arthritis, but when it does, it is a condition called axial spondyloarthritis.<\/p>\n Axial spondyloarthritis is a relatively serious problem, as it increases your chance of a spinal fracture late in life\u2014and because it can cause irreversible bone damage and osteoporosis. Thus, it is important that it is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.<\/p>\n It is possible to see this condition on an MRI scan. The most visible sign is swelling of your spine or sacroiliac joints.<\/p>\n But it is the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that people usually take for normal lower back pain to reduce inflammation and swelling.<\/p>\n Consequently, researchers at the University of Aberdeen wondered whether this widespread NSAID use could hide axial spondyloarthritis from doctors and prevent early diagnosis.<\/p>\n Furthermore, they discovered that many people live with axial spondyloarthritis for 11 years before it is diagnosed.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n