While opioid drugs have their own place in pain management, there are safer and more effective solutions to relieve pain. Deaths caused by opioids have quadrupled since 1999, and more than 27,000 people alone have died from overdoses of opioid drugs in 2017. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states, one-fourth of patients receiving long-term prescription opioids for non-cancer pain relief in primary care situations cope with addiction issues. Over a thousand patients need Emergency Room treatment every day for prescription opioid abuse. Hence, the utilization of non-pharmacological pain management can prevent unnecessary opioid use.
Chiropractic care is specially designed to treat problems related to the musculoskeletal system and has been used to treat millions of people annually. It has helped many people overcome lower back, spine, and neck issues.
Chiropractic Care vs. Opioids
Opioids have had a long role in the treatment of pain. They are a broad group of pain-relieving drugs that work when they interact with the opioid cells. When they travel through the bloodstream and attach to the receptors in the brain cells, the cells release signals that muffle the perception of pain and boost the feelings of well-being. Although opioid medications help control acute pain, their usage has specific inherent risks. Most medical experts agree that there are certain conditions where opioids should be used either sparingly or never used at all.
According to recent research, those who have used chiropractic care have had a lower chance of receiving opioid prescriptions as compared to those who never used it. Current European medical guidelines encourage patients to opt for exercise or manual therapy, which is harmonious with chiropractic care for pain. Furthermore, those who visited a chiropractor within the first months of diagnosis witnessed a greater reduction in health issues, as compared to those during their first visit following the acute phase.
Chiropractic care is not merely limited to joint manipulations but also includes other massage techniques and therapies along with therapeutic exercise instructions. It helps health professionals to achieve a complete therapeutic approach. Unlike opioids that make one feel sleepy and can even slow breathing and heart rate, chiropractic treatment makes one feel rejuvenated. The first step chiropractors take is to analyze and understand the fundamental cause of a patient's condition and then continue with a manual therapy approach wherever needed.
As the research continues, more information has become available to understand why chiropractic care is usually a better option than opioids. It also allows one to recognize that opioids should be viewed as the last resort for relief from back and neck pain.
If you are suffering from back pain, please visit Active Chiropractic & Laser Center in Tustin, CA, for effective pain relief solutions.
