About 30 years ago, medicine had a shift in how they thought pain should be addressed. “Pain is a 5th vital sign” became a rallying cry, and new medications were created to block pain…at all costs. They now know that these medications created a never-before-seen healthcare epidemic. To begin with, the drugs weren’t very good at addressing chronic pain, and they require larger and larger doses to achieve an effect over time.  

Taking a stand against opioids starts with our ability to help people find relief from chronic pain. Nearly all of our primary healthcare organizations have now advocated for a non-drug approach to care. And the data is clear- people are looking for solutions for chronic pain that extend beyond a prescription.

• The Centers for Disease Control (FDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and others have recommended a non-pharmacological approach to chronic pain should be the first line of treatment
• Over 40% of blogs relating to opioids are focused on people trying to find solutions “beyond the pill”
• Together, we can end the opioid crisis by breaking the cycle of chronic pain with natural and effective healthcare choices 

Chronic pain is described as biopsychosocial, which means that it’s complex and has many dimensions. Creating personalized care, goal-oriented, and coordinated care plans are critical and exactly why our practice begins each patient with a complete and thorough evaluation. Our evaluation helps us understand your history, goals, and challenges. From there, we can create a comprehensive plan of care that enables you to find long-term relief from chronic pain. 

The Benefits of Chiropractic  

Do you know the benefits of chiropractic care? Many people know that chiropractors adjust the body’s joints, but things can get confusing after that. The truth is that chiropractors help your body heal itself through movement-based techniques that influence your body’s nervous system, muscles, and joints. 

The benefits of chiropractic can extend beyond just your spine. Chiropractors have been trained to work with nearly all the joints in your body. But there is something unique about spinal adjustments. Spinal adjustments have been shown to directly and indirectly, influence your nervous system. Since your nervous system is the master control system of your body, you may experience improvements in function and pain relief that extend beyond the area of your body that is being adjusted. 

• Spinal adjustments can help relieve pain and improve your body’s function
• Chiropractors are trained to treat a variety of conditions that extend beyond your neck and back
• Adjustments can influence your neuromusculoskeletal system and provide unexpected benefits beyond pain relief alone 

Next Steps: 
Whether you are looking to find relief from pain, correct the cause of your health issues, or you’re seeking improvements in function and performance, chiropractic care may be able to help. It’s very common for people with low back pain, headaches, or neck pain to seek chiropractic care. But don’t forget about all of the other joints of your body- we can help there too. And finally, if you’re seeking human performance improvements, you may want to try chiropractic care. There’s a reason chiropractors are a part of every major sports team! 

Science Source: 
What are opioids and why are they dangerous? Mayo Clinic. 2018
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain. 2020
Opioid Addiction. Stat Pearls. 2021
Healing the Unmet Needs of Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain. 2019
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. April 2019