Overusing Painkillers for Your Back Pain can Cause Headaches.

Well, I am making some progress on my computer problems, so, for the time being, I'm back in business.

I can personally relate to the information in this article on the Australian Herald Sun website.

According to consumer group “Choice” regular use of over the counter painkillers to combat back pain and other conditions (I would suspect it refers to prescription painkillers also but they would only be available through a doctor) can cause withdrawal headaches when the user stops taking them.

This in turn leads you to take more pain killers, so the cycle continues. I recall when I first started having knee pain years ago, before seeking medical advice I was purchasing over the counter painkillers in an attempt to relieve the pain myself. Realising I was probably taking too many, and suffering terrible headaches.

Fortunately I worked out that it was probably that my body had got used to the painkillers and wanted more, so I managed not to take them for a few days and the headaches stopped. Still had the knee pain of course, and then I did go to the doctor, which is what I should have done in the first place.

I think many of us that have suffered chronic pain have been in this situation. It’s quite scary to think that you can effectively become addicted to over the counter medications.

You can read the full article here.