Can Chiropractic Therapy Replace Pain Killers?

Millions of Americans take over-the-counter and prescription pain killers every day to help manage their pain, but many painkillers are coupled with a slew of side effects. Natural health practitioners and chiropractic doctors around the country recommend a combination of herbal medication, massage and even chiropractic treatments to better control certain types of pain and improve overall health. Is chiropractic therapy effective enough to replace pain killers? Here’s a close look at the key benefits of chiropractic therapy, and its role in treating pain symptoms:

Chiropractic treatment is the largest drug-free healing treatment option in the United States, and has been practiced in the Western world for over a century. Chiropractic doctors specialize in treating pain symptoms associated with a misalignment of the spine, and typically perform a series of adjustments or manipulate the skin tissues in a certain way to promote healing.

 

People experiencing severe muscle, joint and spinal pain often seek chiropractic treatment which can pain symptoms and improve overall health. In many cases, the chiropractic doctor will provide some nutritional counseling to ensure that the patient is not eating foods that may trigger inflammation of the joints and tissues.

 

Combined with the adjustments, supplementation and changes in the diet, the patient may be able to reduce dependence on anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers, and restore their body to a better state of health.

According to an article in MassChiro.org, there is considerable research available that shows how people with even chronic pain can benefit from chiropractic care. Not only does ongoing chiropractic care help to improve spinal function and reduce pain throughout the body, but it is not coupled with any adverse reactions, side effects, or long-term effects that can actually harm the body.

 

Modern chiropractic techniques can help to alleviate certain types of pain associated with the aging process and also the effects of injury. Chiropractic treatment may be just as effective – even more so- for treating back pain, joint pain, chronic neck and shoulder pain, and leg pain without any drug intervention.

 

The cyclic nature of lower back pain has been well-documented for over a decade, an according to a recent Gallup poll, 90 percent of all people who visited a chiropractor agreed that chiropractic care was more effective than visiting a doctor and taking prescription medications. (Source: MassChiro.org)

In addition to treating certain types of pain and symptoms of injury, chiropractic doctors strive to restore the body to a better state of health and ensure optimal healing when there are no serious problems to address. Getting regular chiropractic and massage treatments can help to keep the body functioning at its optimal level, and in some cases, may even prevent chronic pain and injuries that result from aging, sports and other factors. Chiropractic preventive care plans typically include a series of adjustments, nutritional counseling, supplementation and massage treatments to keep the body in a healthy state of functioning and reduce the risk of pain and injury.

 

If you are taking prescription medications to manage pain, or want to learn more about natural healing methods available, contact a chiropractor in your area. He or she will be able to perform a spinal assessment and determine what your best options are for effective pain management.