One reason that many people seek out chiropractic care in Kent is as an alternative treatment to relying on pain medication such as opioids. In this article we will discuss which approach to treating chronic pain is more effective, as well as go over the benefits and risks of each.
It’s important to remember that pain is personal to each individual, and can manifest in many ways. There’s aching pain, sharp pain, debilitating pain, etcetera. No matter what type of pain a person is experiencing, they would probably like to reduce their pain levels. Your medical providers should never try to downplay your pain. You need someone that will actually help you achieve pain relief.
Many general practitioner doctors will prescribe pain medication without determining the root cause of the issue. Without figuring out what is causing your pain, they’re not actually treating the problem and it will remain chronic. Unfortunately, many people start taking painkillers without being aware of the potential problems they can cause. It’s a smart idea to explore other ways of recovering from injuries rather than over-relying on medication. Chiropractic treatments offer natural pain relief, which is why many people choose it over taking pills.
So what qualifies as chronic pain? When pain lasts more than three months, it is chronic. It isn’t necessarily constant; many people with chronic pain experience it off and on, but it doesn’t permanently go away. Chronic pain may get worse after a long day or overuse of the injured area. People can end up with chronic pain from a medical disease or condition, inflammation, because of an injury, or something else. Around one in five Americans suffers from chronic pain.
Many doctors are quick to simply prescribe pain medication to get patients off of their back. 20 percent of patients that go to the doctor for pain not caused by cancer end up being prescribed opioids. In 2016, there were over 60 million patients with an opioid prescription. While opioids can be very helpful in certain situations, such as helping with serious pain after surgery, it can be risky when people are consistently using them to treat chronic pain. After surgery, pain relief can help a person rest, be comfortable, and heal. However, opioids can be highly addictive, especially if they are used for a long period of time. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have died from opioid prescription overdoses.
Other medications, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, are not addictive but still do not address the underlying causes of chronic pain. If you take large doses too frequently, it can impact your health negatively such as causing liver problems, gastrointestinal problems, and even heart conditions. Over time, these medications can make your body accustomed to taking them so that when its effects wear off, you’re left in more pain than before and have to take the pills just to be functional in everyday life.
It’s important to be educated about any medication that you decide to take. Some of them have very serious potential side effects. Thankfully, there are some alternatives for treating chronic pain. There are options available that are noninvasive, such as chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic care aims at improving overall wellness. Our body is composed of systems that work together, so when one of them isn’t doing well it can cause pain throughout the body.
During your initial appointment with a chiropractor, they will carry out a physical health exam and perform tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. They will also ask about your personal and family health history. Knowing what you are suffering from gives them a better idea of how to move forward with a treatment plan for you. This means that your chiropractor will create a health plan that may incorporate exercises, massage, nutrition changes, spinal adjustments, and more to address your specific needs. Chiropractic treatment in addition to other methods can promote whole body health and reduce chronic pain.
Many people find that chiropractic treatment is a long-term solution that works on treating their chronic pain issues safely. There is research demonstrating how chiropractic adjustments can reduce the need for strong pain medications or surgical intervention. People that receive chiropractic care are far less likely to fill an opioid prescription for pain in the back, muscles, neck, and head. Chiropractic treatment is less risky than regularly taking strong pain medications. European guidelines actually caution people from using opioids for certain types of pain.
In 2017, a JAMA review of spinal manipulation treatment for addressing lower back pain found that its ability to improve pain levels and functionality were statistically significant. It was also found that spinal manipulation didn’t cause any serious negative effects in patients. Chiropractic treatment is a viable option for many people seeking relief from chronic pain. There are multiple research results that demonstrate how chiropractic treatments for musculoskeletal pain are less invasive, safer, and non-addictive when compared to opioid use.
Orange County and Santa Clara County actually filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state of California against five large pain medication manufacturers. They alleged that doctors and patients were being manipulated by these companies using deceptive marketing tactics to boost their narcotics sales. California has a disproportionate level of overdoses and addiction related to prescription medications, a crisis which the suit alleges is exacerbated by these pharmaceutical companies. Washington has a similar crisis when it comes to prescription drug abuse.
If you are suffering from chronic pain, pain medication may bring you temporary relief. However, it is just masking your symptoms and isn’t treating the cause of your pain. Visit Byers Chiropractic and Massage: Car Accident Urgent Care for safe, effective treatment for back and neck pain, headaches, joint pain, and other conditions. One of the biggest reasons behind chronic pain is from car accident injuries. Byers Chiropractic and Massage: Car Accident Urgent Care specializes in treating injuries from car accidents. Our skilled and experienced chiropractors get to the root cause of your pain and treat it with careful adjustments, massage therapy, and other methods. For pain management that doesn’t rely on drugs, reach out to us and set up an initial consultation.
