Preventing prescription opioid dependency continues to be a significant public health priority in the U.S. However, new research supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs suggests that there may be a viable alternative to opioid medication for patients suffering from pain. The research findings were presented at the 2019 American Academy of Pain Medicine's annual meeting.

The Center for Disease Control reports that one-fourth of patients who received prescription opioid medication for long term, non-cancer pain management have faced issues with opioid addiction. Additionally, opioid-involved fatalities have increased over six times since 1999. However, Brookfield WI chiropractors provide many of the clinical practices recommend for the initial care of pain of the lower back, neck, and arthritis of the hips and knees.

Recent studies suggest that when compared with other options, chiropractic care for skeletal-muscular pain is related to a significant reduction in opioid prescription medications. New studies show that patients who saw a chiropractor for skeletal-muscular pain were almost 50 percent less likely to receive opioid medications than patients who sought healthcare options other than chiropractic care.

Chiropractic Care in Brookfield WI

Researchers were already aware of a growing body of scientific studies that supported chiropractic care being negatively correlated with opioid use. However, no previous study compared all of the available data to determine if there was an actual overall association between a reduction in the use of opioids and chiropractic care.

After a review of all the available study data on opioid prescriptions and chiropractic care, researchers selected 62,000 patients across six studies to include in the current study. Data showed chiropractic care ranged from just over 11 percent to over 51 percent of patients and that the percentage of patients receiving an opioid prescription was lower for those who saw chiropractics by as much as 65 percent. While this is far from rock-solid evidence, the findings do suggest that chiropractic care may affect prescription opioid addiction.

Muscle and joint pain and dysfunction are some of the most common causes of spinal pain and these afflictions are always better addressed with a conservative approach. Chiropractic care is not limited to only joint manipulation, but can also include muscle massage and exercise instruction. It is essential for patients suffering from pain to consult their healthcare provider for a medical evaluation before choosing a care option.

Before entering into a possibly addictive opioid pain-management program, come in and talk to us at our Brookfield WI, New Berlin WI, or Williams Bay WI office. We offer all-natural holistic pain management in Wisconsin and will provide you with a thorough evaluation based on your specific condition and needs to determine what the best course of action is for your particular case.