Research Suggests Chiropractic Care Reduces Need For Prescription Pain Medications

Published by Dr. C.J. DeFabio, D.C. | December 21, 2017

Surgeons, nurse practitioners and primary care providers are just a few of the professionals who are regularly prescribing pain medications to their patients. While there are many people who need both short- and long-term prescriptions to relieve pain and manage chronic conditions, the majority of people are often given these powerful pills unnecessarily. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescriptions for opioids grew steadily from 2007 to 2012, with primary care providers accounting for more than half of these powerful prescriptions.

This has a direct impact on the supply of prescription pain medications in the country, and the increasing prevalence of opioid addiction in the United States. Is there a way to stop relying so heavily on these potent drugs?

As it turns out, a recent study reveals that chiropractic care can reduce the need for prescription pain medication. Acupuncture and physical therapy can also help ease pain in many circumstances. Learn more below.

Pain Management and Chiropractic Care

Throughout the industry, chiropractors are finding time and again that studies reveal regular chiropractic care can reduce a patient’s need for opioid prescriptions when used as part of an overall treatment plan. Most recently, the New Hampshire Chiropractic Association cited three studies that found similar results. In fact, some preliminary research results highlight that opioid use in patients can be reduced by more than 55 percent if chiropractic care is included as part of the treatment plan.

There are several reasons why chiropractic care may be a better way to relieve pain and prevent further complications:

• Chiropractic care targets the root cause of the issue, rather than just treating the symptoms and masking the pain that an individual is experiencing. Chiropractors create treatment plans and use manipulations that are designed to allow the body to heal itself completely.
• Chiropractic care is a safer long-term option for patients. Prescription pain medications are highly addictive, and long-term use can leave a patient dependent on these drugs. In most cases, patients end up having to rely on higher and stronger doses in order to feel better, which can be a destructive path.
• Chiropractic care can be combined with other simple lifestyle changes to provide patients with better results overall than solely relying on pain medications to eliminate discomfort.

Are Americans Receptive to Alternative Forms of Pain Management?

Despite the fact that prescription pain medications are so prevalent in society today, many Americans are still looking for alternative options to pain management. According to the Palmer College of Chiropractic blog, 78 percent of Americans want to find another way to reduce pain and discomfort before they resort to prescription pain medications. This is likely due to the fact that more and more people are aware of the dangers of prescription pain medications.

In addition, Americans are relying more heavily on chiropractic care than they have in the past. About 63 percent of Americans surveyed said that they believe chiropractors have their best interest in mind, and more than half of Americans feel that chiropractors are trustworthy care providers. While chiropractic care is becoming more widespread and accepted in society, there is still a need for further education and advocacy about the benefits of this alternative health care option.

For treating chronic low back pain, acupuncture, physical therapy, massage and moist heat therapy are also increasingly being recognized as viable options. New guidelines from the American College of Physicians call for treating not just the pain, but the actual problem. The treatment guidelines define those four alternatives — acupuncture, physical therapy, massage, and moist heat therapy — as first-line therapies for low back pain, along with spinal manipulation.

Is Chiropractic Care Right for You?

Whether you are suffering from chronic pain or you are recovering from an accident or injury, chiropractic care may be the answer you need. Anyone who is hesitant to begin a prescription pain medication regimen or who may be willing to try an alternative option for pain management should consider chiropractic services.

For more information about how chiropractic care could reduce your need for prescription pain medications, contact Ravenswood Chiropractic & Wellness Center today to set up a consultation appointment.