Chronic lower back pain (that which lasts for longer than three months) even after the root cause has been treated is incredibly common, the second leading cause of disability around the world… and it can have a huge impact on your daily life, taking its toll physically, mentally and emotionally.
The condition itself is characterised by pain in the lower back (which can potentially radiate into the lower body), mobility and coordination issues, difficulty bending or carrying objects, difficulty maintaining neutral standing posture. Furthermore, it can also lead to emotional issues like depression and anxiety.
It’s generally advised that treatment for lower back pain be multidisciplinary, so as to best address the problem fully rather than simply relieving symptoms and pain. This includes self-care, remaining active, physiotherapy, massage and manual therapy, and strengthening exercises.
More recently, however, prescription medication has been issued to people with chronic lower back pain to help manage their symptoms, including gabapentin.
If you are currently experiencing issues with your lower back, it may be worth exploring other avenues before you consider medication, as new research has suggested that there could be a link between gabapentin and dementia or mild cognitive impairment.
Carried out by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in the US, the study found that study participants with chronic lower back pain who received six or more gabapentin prescriptions had a 29 per cent higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia and an 85 per cent higher risk of a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis compared to those who didn’t take the drug.
It’s important to note that this is an observational study and, as such, it is unable to prove that gabapentin can cause dementia or cognitive impairment.
However, it would still perhaps be advisable to have regular check-ins with your doctor if you are taking the medication, as well as remaining alert to any cognitive changes such as slower thinking, poor memory or confusion and brain fog.
