Chiropractic healing and traditional medicine both have their place when helping patients who suffer from injuries and chronic pain. Both professions can diagnose and treat your condition. However, techniques they use for treatment are vastly different. Which one is right for you and your situation? I’ll take a minute to compare the two.
The Purpose of Medicine — and its Dangers
When a medical doctor prescribes you pain medication, he or she is intentionally treating the symptom of your condition. In many cases, this is fully justified. If you’ve broken a bone or injured yourself in a way that requires surgery, medication can be very useful in mitigating your pain while you heal.
But if the pain is due to a chronic condition or a musculoskeletal issue, medicine can become problematic, as it only masks the pain without treating the cause. Pain meds can be addictive, as evidenced by the opioid epidemic that has gripped our nation. People also can develop a tolerance to medication, so over time an initial prescription will no longer dull the pain, and a patient will need more. There are also side effects to consider, such as sleepiness or sleeplessness, poor or slow reflexes, and loss of inhibitions. Plus, there’s always the risk of overdose if too many pills are taken in a short amount of time.
Chiropractic Care Treats the Underlying Cause
As a country with a high rate of reported chronic pain, the benefits of chiropractic healing are widely recognized. Instead of masking pain with medication, chiropractors like me treat your pain by promoting healing and general wellness through an expertise of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
We treat the cause of your pain holistically and think about its root cause, your lifestyle, and the impact of certain treatments before recommending a treatment. Chiropractic is non-invasive, doesn’t require medication, and is backed by research. A recent clinical trial published in the medical journal Spine compared the use of prescription meds to chiropractic, and the results were impressive: 94% of those receiving chiropractic manipulations experienced a 30% reduction in low back pain at week four, while only 56% of those receiving pills experienced a similar level of pain reduction.
Make the Choice That Makes the Most Sense
If you have suffered a fracture or are awaiting/recovering from surgery, pain medication may be a smart decision. But if you’re dealing with chronic pain, turn to a chiropractor – give me a call – and treat the cause, not the symptom. As a patient of Gray Chiropractic & Sports Associates you will receive a thorough consultation, diagnosis and treatment plan. Your plan will be customized to you and your needs to address your pain, so you can live a healthier, pain-free life.