In the Face of the Opioid Epidemic, the FDA is Welcoming Chiropractic Approaches

Chiropractic is considered a form of alternative medicine. In a traditional Medical Doctor’s office, recommended treatments for back or neck pain have typically included medication to reduce inflammation and manage pain, as well as physical therapy or surgery to correct the problem. Being an “alterative” therapy, chiropractic has not always received recognition for being potentially beneficial for spine health.

However, more and more people are recognizing the dangers of prescription drugs, including the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In May of last year, the FDA proposed changing the way it educated healthcare practitioners, encouraging them to learn more about alternative therapies like chiropractic and suggest them to patients experiencing pain symptoms in an effort to reduce the opioid epidemic.

The news of the proposed change is an exciting one in the chiropractic community. Recognition from a lauded source like the FDA may encourage more doctors to speak about chiropractic and more patients to seek therapy before turning to medication. At Ideal Spine, we promote a holistic approach to patient wellbeing through our Chiropractic BioPhysics (CBP) techniques, which provides safe, effective, and non-addictive treatment for numerous health problems.

The dangers of opioid use

Opioid painkillers are a very effective method of treating pain because of their ability to muffle pain signals within your brain. Doctors may prescribe opioids to patients experiencing severe chronic pain. However, opioids can be extremely dangerous when taken improperly or for long periods of time.

Opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone are some of the most abused drugs in the nation. Due to their addictive nature and other dangers, thousands of people using opioids for chronic or short-term back pain relief are at risk of becoming addicted and even overdosing on medication.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioid overdoses (including both prescription and illicit drugs) accounted for over 66 percent of drug-related overdoses in 2016 – over 42,000 deaths. Prescription opioid use may also lead patients to using illicit opioids like heroin, which have many more dangers.

Chiropractic offers an alternative treatment option

When doctors prescribe opioids as a pain management solution for back pain, they are not fixing the underlying problem causing the pain. Even still, opioid prescriptions for back pain have increased dramatically over the years in an effort to keep patients with chronic pain more comfortable.

However, alternative therapies like chiropractic may actually be able to treat the root of the pain – not the symptom. Chiropractic uses techniques including manipulations, massages, and exercises to potentially cure the body of structural problems that may be causing widespread or localized pain. Chiropractors see patients for a wide variety of health problems, including neuropathic pain, headaches and migraines, whiplash, neck pain, back pain, and much more.

Chiropractic care is gentle and not addictive. Therefore, patients may be able to both rectify their underlying conditions and avoid the dangers of opioid addiction by pursuing alternative therapies prior to taking prescription pain medication.

If you are a patient seeking a long-term solution for pain management, consider chiropractic. Chiropractic care performed by a Chiropractic BioPhysics-trained expert may help improve your symptoms without the need for prescription medication or invasive procedures. At Ideal Spine, we teach chiropractors ways to treat patients holistically and effectively by working to identify and fix the root of the pain, not just the symptom. Contact us today to learn more.

Chiropractic BioPhysics® corrective care trained Chiropractors are located throughout the United States and in several international locations. CBP providers have helped thousands of people throughout the world realign their spine back to health, and eliminate a source of chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, chronic headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and a wide range of other health conditions. If you are serious about your health and the health of your loved ones, contact a CBP trained provider today to see if you qualify for care. The exam and consultation are often FREE. See www.CBPpatient.com for providers in your area.