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Chiropractic care and the opioid crisis

A Gallup report found one-fourth of all adults have received chiropractic care in the past five years. Of those, a whopping 88 percent called their treatments effective for the money they paid to relieve various kinds of neck and back pain.

At Wisniewski Chiropractic, we believe in the healing power of chiropractic care, especially when patients establish a routine with us. We offer more than short-term relief! We can help your pain. More importantly, our services put you on a path to longer-term pain management through subtle adjustments.

Pain management

Many serious and chronic injuries cause recurring pain that leads to unimaginable discomfort throughout life. Sufferers usually must either grit their teeth, pop some pain relievers and live on or seek help from a physician. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) classifies any pain lasting 90 days or more as “chronic,” at which point a patient should seek some kind of therapy.

Doctors do many forms of good for the patients they serve. They’re experts in pinpointing exactly what is wrong within the body with the help of their medical knowledge and technology. The issue is what comes after this initial process.

According to the Medical Care journal, pain diagnoses from physicians doubled between 2000 and 2010. In this time span, the number of patients who reported having pain stayed exactly the same, while the number of opioid prescriptions drastically went up. What does this mean? More patients are taking opioid medications than ever, yet long-term pain relief isn’t happening.

Much is being made of the opioid crisis in America by the media, lawmakers and health experts. It’s a staggering reality. Emergency rooms and hospitals see a thousand people each day who either overdosed or misused prescription opiate medications. Current data shows the epidemic has few signs of slowing unless we change something as a society.

How we can help

The American Physical Therapy Association recently pushed a new social campaign called #ChoosePT. Like chiropractic care, physical therapy relies on range-of-motion exercises and hands-on treatments.

The CDC also advocates against opiate prescription being the first step in pain relief. It has updated guidelines to include recommendations against heavy-handed opioid use in medicine:

“Primary care clinicians report having concerns about opioid pain medication misuse, find managing patients with chronic pain stressful, express concern about patient addiction, and report insufficient training in prescribing opioids. Across specialties, physicians believe that opioid pain medication can be effective in controlling pain, that addiction is a common consequence of prolonged use, and that long-term opioid therapy often is overprescribed for patients with chronic noncancer pain.

These attitudes and beliefs, combined with increasing trends in opioid-related overdose, underscore the need for better clinician guidance on opioid prescribing. Clinical practice guidelines focused on prescribing can improve clinician knowledge, change prescribing practices, and ultimately benefit patient health.”

Chiropractic care is a method of pain relief, but relies on your body’s natural ability to heal itself. Musculoskeletal adjustments are meant to guide the body back into its natural alignment. Our lead chiropractor, Dr. Nicholas Wisnewski, will also give you lifestyle tips on how to maintain these adjustments and keep your pain away between visits.

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of a sports injury, car crash or anything that’s left you with recurring pain, do yourself a favor by giving  chiropractic therapy a chance BEFORE you see your doctor about medication!
 

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We’re Wisniewski Chiropractic, part of the Thrive Wellness network. Nearing our third year in our current location, we’re excited to continue bringing you personalized care and support for your wellness journey. Dr. Wisniewski is an expert in chiropractic care. We believe in healthcare that relies less on medication and more on prevention through the use of proper diet, exercise and patient education. Our chiropractic services follow a three-part plan: relieve your pain first, address the root cause, and make a plan for your future wellness.