Chronic pain such as from arthritis, sciatica or recurring migraines negatively impacts many areas of our daily life. Traditional medicine usually chooses to treat pain with prescription medications. Treating this pain with medication only treats the pain. It does not resolve the root cause of the condition. Do you know that this has led to a record number of people becoming addicted to pain medications? Prescription drug abuse and addiction have become a significant problem in the United States. Researchers estimate that as many as 2.1 million people in the United States abuse opioids. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the percentage of patients getting drug therapy has increased to 75%. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that ” Stimulants such as Ritalin achieve their effects by acting on the same neurotransmitter systems as cocaine. Opioid pain relievers such as OxyContin attach to the same cell receptors targeted by illegal opioids like heroin.”
Drugs like morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone simply mask symptoms allowing the condition to remain in the body and potentially get worse. Even when using opioids as prescribed, they can still negatively impact your life. One example would be with that of a person suffering from sciatica. If this is a chronic condition and the person is prescribed pain medication, the patient may eventually develop a tolerance to the prescribed pain medication. The result is a need for higher and higher doses and a significantly increased risk of addiction. An alternative for taking opioid prescriptions is chiropractic care. More and more people are seeking treatment from a chiropractor to treat symptoms usually treated with prescription medications.
Chiropractic is an excellent pain management method that is not only effective but is noninvasive and drug-free. Chiropractic focuses on whole body wellness so patients learn how to take proactive steps to treat their condition. Chiropractic care is also beneficial and safe for people of all ages, even children! If you are suffering from chronic pain, call Chait Chiropractic Center at 941-371-1070 to get started on your path to wellness today.