Chiropractic care for back pain is an alternative to opioids

Chiropractic care for back pain is an alternative to opioids

Virtually everyone knows that there is an opioid painkiller epidemic in the United States. Many people know firsthand a relative, friend or neighbor who is affected by this problem. This article discusses an alternative to opioid medications for pain management of back pain through chiropractic care. It will also update the reader on current research on treating low back pain through conservative measures.

Lower back pain affects 80% of Americans by the age of 40. In my chiropractic practice, it is very rare for people to have zero or multiple episodes of significant back pain in their lifetime. Many people have back pain and unfortunately some suffer from constant back pain.

Lower back pain is omnipresent. Due to its prevalence, it affects most people in their daily activities of working, caring for their family, taking care of their home and garden, and being able to exercise and relax.

To help people with back problems, it became common for doctors to administer opioid painkillers. We all know that, as well-intentioned as it was, this had unfortunate consequences. Opioids are highly addictive and have led to overdoses, deaths, addictions and social chaos.

What if opioid pharmaceuticals are not the answer for back sufferers? Fortunately, chiropractic care, which has been available in the United States for over 25 years, shows promise.

Chiropractors are doctors who specialize in the care of the human spine. A doctor of chiropractic is specifically trained to diagnose the cause of back pain and has specialized training to address the cause of back pain. Chiropractors use a treatment called spinal manipulation to correct misaligned or misaligned spinal vertebrae to address the cause of the pain.

The Cleveland Clinic emphasizes spinal manipulation as an initial treatment for back pain.

Consumer Reports surveyed 3500 people with back pain and 90% of people tried spinal manipulation and found it helpful.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a review of systematic research that found chiropractic manipulation for back pain is effective and low risk.

The attorney general of 37 states wrote a letter to major health insurance companies calling for alternative therapies such as chiropractic care instead of opioid medications. They urged insurance companies to consider making chiropractic care available to patients at a lower cost to combat chronic pain.

With such research and data, it would be much easier, faster and with lower social costs if alternative treatments such as chiropractic manipulation were used for acute and chronic pain conditions such as low back pain.

Inspired by James Schofield