Fish Oil Effective for Treating Chronic Back Pain & Neck Pain
A recent study published in Surgical Neurology on the use of fish oil to treat chronic low-back and neck pain has found promising results. Many of the patients had degenerative disc conditions. Here were the results:
After beginning supplementation, subjects were given a questionnaire asking for clinical improvements and any side effects. After an average of 75 days of fish oil supplementation, 60% of respondents reported significant improvements, including reduction in overall pain and 59% were able to stop taking other pain medicine. None of the patients experienced significant side effects and 88% of the respondents planned to continue using the omega-3 fish oil.
Participants in this study took 2-4 capsules a day. Dr. Maroon emphasized the usefulness of fish oil as an effective alternative to pain medication, as well as the importance of selecting a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil:
“It is important for patients to know that safer alternatives to pain medications are available,” said Dr. Maroon. “Fish oil supplements containing EPA and DHA omega-3s are an effective choice with fewer or no side effects. People should be careful to choose a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplement that is fresh and free of potentially harmful heavy metals, such as the mercury, PCPs, and dioxins that can be found in fish.”
Source: Study shows fish oil to be safe and effective for back and neck pain.
Tags: fish oil low back pain, pain management, painkiller alternatives
I just started on fish oil six days ago for pvc’s(heart) and want to know where you can get coupons or any other discount to buy fish oil. It is expensive. Thank you Joyce
I started taking fish oil pills on the advice of my doctor for elevated cholesterol. I also have severe disc degeneration to the point that my neurosurgeon wanted to do spinal fusions and I also have arthritis. About a month after I began fish oil I began to notice that my joint pain and back pain had substantially decreased. I ran out of the pills for about a week now and I can tell a big difference in pain level and also an increase in numbness and tingling in my leg. After reading this article and one on “WebMD” I will never run out of fish oil again!!!!!!