Before modern medicine, getting back pain that interfered with activities outside of bed was just something that people had to tough out. Medical doctors now have the resources to prescribe treatments for scoliosis, dislocated vertebrae, and other conditions that can cause lower back pain in Miami and all parts of the world.
10% of the U.S. population has back pain at some point in their life. The pain usually lasts for 4-12 weeks, and it’s one of the most common reasons for missed work.
With this in mind, it shouldn’t be a surprise that America has the opioid epidemic it does today. A lot of people work to make a living and can't do so while in pain. The simplest solution is to take a pill. But there’s always a price to pay for this type of easy fix. Taking a pill to temporarily alleviate pain can create big problems, like addiction.
What Does the Research Say About Opioids and Back Pain?
Drug overdoses are one of the more serious effects of drugs. 115 people die from an overdose every day, which adds up to 43,000 per year. According to a recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry, about 60% of overdose cases started with a prescription to treat chronic pain. Once addicted to prescriptions, many move on to other drugs—57% of nonmedical users report abusing prescription drugs, and 26% move on to injection drugs like heroin.
Over a third of those who overdosed used opioids to relieve chronic back pain.
"Extreme cases" have been reduced by approximately 38%, and "severe cases" reduced by about 80%. In 2017, the AMA made a formal request for doctors to stop prescribing opioids and medications intended to wean patients off of opioids. Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, such as chiropractic care, may look suspicious to some physicians, evidence suggests that it is a sensible alternative.
Let’s look at the results of a January 2018 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. The results showed that people with severe back pain that undergo chiropractic care treatments, such as spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, may be more likely to avoid opioids. The study showed that this group of patients was 55% less likely to fill a prescription for analgesics, such as lorcane and oxycodone. (Opioids are a type of analgesic.)
Opioid use has been shown to increase the time someone spends with acute pain as well as contribute to decreased function. With a chiropractic adjustment, evidence shows that the time spent with acute pain is shortened, and increases a person’s ability to resume a normal life.
In addition to relieving patients from drug dependencies for pain relief, chiropractic care offers a less expensive route for back pain management than surgery. Not only can a local chiropractor help people with lower back pain in Miami, but they also have an added benefit of healing ailments in various parts of the body due to natural "adjustments." Furthermore, chiropractic care is more cost-effective than surgery. Even with simple surgical procedures, risks can arise—when the spine is the operation site, the risk becomes significant.
Dealing with Lower Back Pain in Miami? Painkillers Aren't the Only Answer
When working with severe back pain, you don't want to risk your livelihood and depend on dangerous treatments. That’s why you need advice from an expert. An experienced doctor can offer valuable knowledge to deal with chronic lower back pain and allow you to figure out the best plan of care.
