A new study out of Australia found that Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, did little to relieve back pain woes in more than 1,600 patients suffering from back issues.

The study compared Acetaminophen to a placebo pill and found that neither pill proved more effective in:

• Pain relief

• Easing discomfort caused by back pain

• Helping patients fall asleep faster

• Improving overall quality of life

• Recovery time

Researchers say their findings may change the way doctors issue prescriptions for back pain.

“[Acetaminophen] might not be of primary importance in the management of acute lower back pain,” said study author Dr. Christopher Williams.

Others were not so quick to consider changing prior practices.

“While this is a fascinating study, it is only one study and should change clinical behavior,” said Dr. Houman Danesh. Another expert, Dr. Michael Mizhiritsky, agreed with Danesh and questioned some of the study’s techniques, saying, “The drawback I see is there was no group that did not receive treatment – meaning there could be a placebo effect” at work.

I agree with Dr. Danesh, and his final thoughts on the study perfectly sum up that pain management needs to be a multi-faceted approach.

“Most back pain patients improve in 6-8 weeks,” Danesh said. “It is important to note that the best treatment of back pain involves not only pain medication, but also physical therapy to address muscle imbalances. Acupuncture for back pain has also been researched by the U.S. National Institute of Health, and after reviewing the literature they state that there is evidence to support the use of acupuncture for back pain.”