Consumer Reports writes on alternatives to opioids for pain relief for ailments such as lower back pain, post-surgical pain, headaches, and joint pain.

Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, MBA, director of Critical Care Services within the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Management at HSS, explains that regional anesthesia (versus general) can help reduce the need for opioids after surgery.

Dr. Memtsoudis' recent research, published in the journal Anesthesiology earlier this year, found that surgical patients who received at least two other forms of pain medication (such as acetaminophen and a NSAID) along with an opioid did better overall.

Dr. Memtsoudis says that those coming out of surgery should "have realistic expectations - they can't expect to go home from the hospital feeling absolutely pain-free. But, they should be able to read without being distracted by pain".

Read the full article at ConsumerReports.org.