![]() Yes! Chiropractic has been proven to help manage both acute and chronic pain. Pain management, in general, is a big issue in healthcare. Let’s look at some facts: Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability. According to the US bone and Joint initiative study, back pain was cause for over 264 million days off of work. That is all without considering any other type of chronic pain condition. Pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. When looking for solutions to chronic pain, the first thing we tend to reach for is over-the-counter aids such as Aspirin, Advil, or Ibuprofen. Then if these conditions worsen and we go to the doctor we are typically directed to stronger prescription medications, which, can be concerning to many patient situations. Many people are looking for ways to treat their chronic pain without resorting to drugs of the traditional medication protocol. With alternative care we can lessen our dependency on over the counter drugs and even opioids. Back pain is also one of the most common conditions that opioids are prescribed for with over half of opioid users reporting back pain among their symptoms. Why is this connection between back pain and opioids so concerning? While prescription opioids are certainly helpful to many patients in complex severe conditions, however, we need to also be looking at the big picture of the opioid crisis: In 2016, illicit and prescription opioids were responsible for more than 42,000 fatal overdoses across the country. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, those numbers have quintupled since 1999, which means the problem is just getting worse. The good news is that, alternative medicines are already making great improvements to these dire statistics. Let's take a look at some strategies the VA has been using in order reduce opioid addiction among veterans. After launching one initiative, they were able to reduce overall opioid prescriptions by 41% over the past five years. The project was focused on non-drug treatment for chronic pain, such as acupuncture, spinal manipulation therapy, chiropractic care, and yoga. It is also good news to know that patients who received services from a chiropractor were less likely to fill a prescription for opioid medication, and, there was a 51 percent lower likelihood of an adverse drug incident compared to non recipients of chiropractic care. A visit to the chiropractor may also be more cost effective for sufferers of chronic pain. In one study, "those who initiated treatment for low back pain with chiropractic rather than a regular MD had 40% in reduced healthcare cost!" In general “Healthcare plans that incorporate chiropractic typically realize a 2:1 return for every dollar spent.” There are numerous research studies, reports, and surveys proving how effective chiropractic can be for pain: "In a Randomized controlled trial, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) in a 52-week study. The clinical outcomes measures showed that manual therapy resulted in faster recovery than physiotherapy and general practitioner care. Moreover, total costs of the manual therapy-treated patients were about one-third of the costs of physiotherapy or general practitioner care." Korthals-de Bos et al (2003), British Medical Journal “Patients with chronic low-back pain treated by chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by family physicians. Satisfaction scores were higher for chiropractic patients. A higher proportion of chiropractic patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better, whereas nearly one-third of medical patients reported their low-back pain was worse or much worse.” Nyiendo et al (2000), Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutic The evidence and anecdotes are solid. If you are suffering form chronic or acute pain, chiropractic care may well worth a try! Send us your questions! Yours might be answered next week. SheltonSportsandSpine@gmail.com Sources and Further Reading: NIH Fact Sheet -- Pain Management The Center for Disease Control and Prevention -- Drug Overdose Deaths VHA Pain Management -- Opioid Saftey Initiative Boss Magazine -- Corrective Care for the Opioid Epidemic American Chiropractic Association -- What Research Shows About Chiropractic
13 Comments
5/6/2021 11:10:19 pm
When approaching pain management in a holistic, proactive and highly effective, I recommend incorporating results-based techniques in the areas of corrective exercise and flexibility, customized nutrition, prolotherapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and stress management. Treating the root cause of pain rather than medications that mask pain will solve any pain issues.
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2/2/2022 06:30:47 am
It really helped me when you said that numerous people are looking for manners to treat their chronic pain without resorting to drugs of the traditional medication protocol. My son told me this morning that he is suffering from back pain every time he bends. My wife and I decided to bring him to the best Pain Management Specialists in town.
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2/3/2022 06:03:25 pm
I like how you mentioned that improvement is important if you are being treated by a doctor. A friend of mine told me that he is hoping to find a reliable treatment that can help his brother that was involved in a motor vehicle accident, and he asked if I have any idea where is the best option to consider. Thanks to this informative article, I'll be sure to tell his friend that it will be much better if he consults a trusted pain management service as they can answer all his inquiries and will provide proper treatment.
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2/23/2022 05:32:42 am
I never knew that when seeking relief from chronic pain, we often turn to over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, Advil, or ibuprofen. I never thought that it would be like this, I'll share this with my aunt. Thank you for the information about pain relief.
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2/26/2022 06:00:29 pm
Thanks for explaining how a chiropractor can help you'd deal with chronic pain by using spinal manipulation. My uncle talked about how his back pain prevents him from doing farm duties. He'd probably be ecstatic to learn that this treatment can help.
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6/7/2022 02:29:55 pm
Thank you for explaining about how most people want to look for a way to manage their chronic pains without resorting to medications. I've been thinking this more myself, especially to help with my back pain. I'll be sure to find a chiropractor soon to help me.
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9/26/2022 03:14:01 am
I like what you stated about people with chronic pain visiting a chiropractor more affordably. My son plays high school football. He said that too many physical activities were causing him back discomfort. I'll take him to the child chiropractor to get his back examined.
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12/31/2022 12:50:28 am
I'd like to say that this article really forced me to do so. Really nice post! we provide.chiropactor sydney cbd.<a href="https://www.sydneychiroandmassage.com.au/">Chiropractor Sydneya>
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1/12/2023 03:20:02 pm
A details answer. Your writing proves that you are proficient in this subject. Thanks for sharing.
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5/23/2023 10:17:07 pm
Nice and helpful guide that everyone can follow for their back pain concerns. Thanks for it.
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6/17/2023 07:54:59 pm
The article presents compelling evidence on the effectiveness of chiropractic care in managing both acute and chronic pain. It sheds light on the significant impact of pain on society and the limitations of relying solely on over-the-counter aids or prescription medications, especially considering the concerns surrounding opioids and their potential for addiction.
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10/29/2023 08:22:06 pm
Great insight on chiropractic care for chronic pain! Can you share any patient success stories related to this approach?
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11/9/2023 06:13:08 pm
Not long ago, my sister said her back started causing her pain. The pain has gotten so bad that she can't fall asleep at night, and she doesn't want to take painkillers because she just found out she's pregnant. I'll recommend she seeks a professional chiropractor to reduce my sister's pain.
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