Jul 19th, 2017
Dr. Lindsay Pomeroy, DC
According to a report from the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit component of the National Academy of Sciences, an estimated 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. The increase of people experiencing chronic pain has been directly correlated with the rapid increase of opioid use for pain management. Opioid use, however, has been associated with many adverse outcomes. There are the common side effects, like fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, physical dependence, increased tolerance, respiratory depression, and depression of mood. Opioids can bring more severe consequences though too, including insufficient pain relief, overuse, addiction, progression to self-medication via illegal drugs, and even death by overdose.
The World Health Organization reports that worldwide 69,000 people die each year from an opioid overdose. In the United States alone, 30,000 people die each year from opioid overdose. It’s estimated that more than two million Americans are currently addicted to pain medication. And it’s no wonder really; in 2015, doctors wrote 249 million prescriptions for opioids! The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) has now classified the use and abuse of prescription pain medications as an epidemic.
Accordingly, earlier this year the American College of Physicians recommended use of conservative care, such as acupuncture, yoga, and chiropractic care for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Additionally, the CDC has taken the stance that nonpharmacologic therapy is the preferred method for treatment of chronic pain. Indeed, there are many conservative, alternative treatments that can help with chronic pain. These include appropriate exercise, physical therapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, acupuncture, and nutritional supplementation.
Chiropractic physicians are educated and skilled in the most conservative methods to alleviate pain, and actively encourage the use of conservative options before resorting to riskier treatments like prescription medication or surgery. Using treatments like manual therapy, physical therapy modalities, and rehabilitative exercise, chiropractors take a drug-free approach to treating musculoskeletal disorders.
Acupuncture is quickly becoming a mainstream treatment for chronic pain. An ancient Chinese remedy, acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat many ailments. The practice is built on the concept of maintaining the balance of various body elements, like for instance, blood flow and nutrients. While more research is currently being done, it is believed that acupuncture helps with chronic pain by intercepting pain signals and releasing endorphins.
There are also many nutritional supplements that can help with chronic pain. Glucosamine and chondroitin have been shown to be effective in reducing moderate to severe pain caused by osteoarthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids and turmeric can also help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Recently, studies have shown that capsaicin derived from chilli peppers may help with arthritic pain, and nerve pain such as that from diabetic neuropathy. There are many more natural supplements that have been shown to help with a variety of causes of pain. As always, it is best to talk to a healthcare professional to find the most effective combination. Before making any changes to your prescription medication, talk to your primary care physician or a medical doctor.
If you are interested in learning more and determining if conservative care may be a good fit for you, book a consultation with one of our healthcare providers at The Wellness Center PDX, and we can help answer any questions you may have.