It seems as if prescription pain relievers are being focused on more and more these days. As the regular use of these drugs appears to be mounting across all demographics, the problem of overmedicating Americans has become a substantial topic of interest. You may not be aware of just how much these medications are affecting the lives of your friends and neighbors. Or, maybe you take them yourself and know about the potential for addiction and side effects first-hand.
According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription drug. A little over half use two prescriptions, and surprisingly, 20 percent of Americans take five or more prescription medications. Two of the most commonly prescribed drugs are painkillers and antidepressants. Interestingly, research has found a direct link between regular use of opioid painkillers and an increase in depression. As overuse of these opioid painkillers and their combined effects with other pharmaceuticals, the incidence of overdose deaths has skyrocketed.
What can be done?
Prescription painkillers can result in devastating consequences, as evidence continues to confirm. Increasingly, both patients and physicians alike are starting to realize the real significance of alternative treatment options. If alternative treatments can reduce the need for such strong, addictive, side-effect-laden medications, instances of death and other unfavorable outcomes can be significantly diminished.
How can chiropractic care help to relieve chronic pain?
A fundamental failing of treating an ongoing condition with pain medicines is that the underlying cause of the pain is never addressed. As time goes on, the use of these medications can result in a tolerance for the drug, requiring higher and higher does to do the same job. Rather than prescribe pharmaceutical interventions, our chiropractic physicians can work to address chronic pain in a few significant ways:
Spinal Adjustments
Spinal misalignments, which in chiropractic terms are called subluxations, can lead to pressure and irritation on nerves emerging from the spinal cord, causing uncomfortable, chronic back and neck pain. Subluxations may result from physical trauma or even from normal daily wear and tear. Using chiropractic spinal adjustments, chiropractic physicians can gently restore proper alignment of the spine, removing the nerve and soft tissue irritation and bringing relief.
Chiropractors often use other natural therapies in conjunction with spinal manipulations, including:
- Spinal decompression
- Electrical stimulation therapies
- Ultrasound treatment
- Heat and cold therapies
- Diet and nutrition recommendations
- Rehabilitative exercises
- Postural adjustments and recommendations
- Acupuncture
- Massage
- Lifestyle recommendations
The ever-worsening use of prescription narcotics for pain is becoming an epidemic. While a patient may feel temporary pain relief from prescription painkillers, life-altering consequences may occur over time. Our chiropractic care at [practice name] aims to address the underlying causes of pain, which may lead to more dramatic and longer-lasting pain reduction without the adverse effects of prescription drugs.
Resources:
Wikipedia, Chiropractic Care