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The Chronic Pain Crisis is the Opioid Crisis

For decades, opioids were marketed as a “safer” alternative to treat chronic pain. And as the number of people with chronic pain began to rise, so did the number of people addicted to and dying from prescription opioids. The chronic pain epidemic has evolved into our current opioid crisis.

To address the opioid crisis, we must first find non-pharmacological solutions to the chronic pain epidemic. Over the past few years, major healthcare agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have recognized that non-pharmacological approaches should be the first line of care to manage chronic pain.

New studies have indicated that there is a reason to be hopeful. Non-drug care options, such as chiropractic, are very effective at helping people reduce pain. Even people with severe chronic pain have benefited from the care that chiropractors can provide.

• Chronic low back pain will affect up to 20% of people over 18 years old. • Cooperation between your Medical Doctor and Chiropractor can help provide the best results. • Chiropractic care has been shown to provide better outcomes than care in a pain clinic.

The change in approach to a primarily non-pharmacological-based approach to care is unprecedented in healthcare. We can’t undo the damage that has been done. But, we can learn from the past and work together to overcome chronic pain with safe and effective care to relieve your pain without the dangerous side effects and addiction issues we’ve experienced with opioid medications. Our practice is proud to partner with other healthcare providers supporting a natural pain management approach.

The Opioid Crisis: How Did We End Up Here?

About 30 years ago, there was a fundamental shift in medicine regarding how pain was understood and treated. The number of people with chronic pain seemed to rise, and it was thought that the options to address the pain weren’t adequate.

As doctors paid more attention to assessing pain, they also paid more attention to treating pain. Opioid medication was prescribed more frequently for chronic lower back or neck pain. Until then, opioids were only prescribed for severe pain after surgery or advanced-stage cancer. But, in the early 1990s, it all changed. New opioid formulas were promoted as less addictive, and physicians were encouraged to prescribe these drugs far more liberally than before.

Prescribing these drugs very quickly led to a variety of problems. First, patients rapidly adapted to the drugs, requiring larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect over time. Second, these drugs weren’t very effective at addressing chronic pain. They provided short-term relief but became less useful for many people as time passed. Finally, these drugs provided a euphoric feeling that quickly led to addiction. • Starting in the 1990’s, doctors were encouraged to prescribe opioids for chronic pain.

• 59% of opioid users report having experienced back pain.

• In the US alone, we have averaged over 130 deaths per day due to opioids.

Now, decades later, we are consumed with the opioid crisis. Over 130 people die daily from opioids, and over 40% are from prescribed opioids. If there is a silver lining to this crisis, we now realize that the answers and treatment of chronic pain are rarely found in a bottle. Many leading healthcare organizations are now recommending non-pharmacological approaches to treating chronic pain- including chiropractic. If you want to explore a drug-free approach to pain relief, schedule an appointment with us today.

Your Body is Designed to Move

Your body is built to move. Every spinal disc and joint is designed to help you sit, stand, run, and move! Your discs are soft enough to flex as you bend forward and back, the spinal facet joints slide as you turn and twist, and the spinal bones are connected with ligaments that keep you supported as your muscles push and pull. It’s an incredibly strong and resilient system when you stop and think about it.

New research has begun to give us a glimpse of just how important movement is in our lives. For example, spine movement has now been shown to stimulate and accelerate the healing process. Movement is so crucial in the healing process that even people who have spine surgery are encouraged to get up and move as quickly as possible after surgery.

• All of the bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints of your spine are designed to support
  daily movement.

  • Blood flow, strength, and flexibility are all enhanced through movement.

  • Movement of the individual segments of your spine can affect how you heal.

Next Steps:

I believe encouraging healthy movement and activity is part of my job as your chiropractor. If you have any questions about stretches, exercises, or other ways to proactively stay healthy, ask. There is an old saying, “You don’t get old then stiff; you get stiff then old.” We want to help you stay young by helping you keep your spine and body moving. Stay proactive with your health by ensuring you have your next appointment scheduled!

The Brain + Spine Connection

Every thought and movement occurs through your brain or spinal cord, commonly known as the central nervous system. Your spinal column acts as the protection and pathway for your spinal cord to travel down and then split into the nerves that reach every cell of your body. Every moment, millions of messages are moving along your spinal cord to maintain the delicate balance between your brain and body.

Chiropractic adjustments can alter biochemical markers in your brain. New research has shown that the type of movement during a chiropractic adjustment can change the chemistry of your brain. These changes can result in everything from endorphin release (a feel-good hormone) to pain relief, and emerging research has even indicated increased strength (or cortical drive) after an adjustment.

• Your brain and body are in constant communication through your central and peripheral nervous system.

  • The spinal cord can send information to your brain at over 250 mph!

  • Chiropractic adjustments to your neck or back have been shown to influence brain function, resulting in pain relief, endorphin release, and more.

  Over the past 100 years, scientists and doctors have learned much about the brain/body connection, but we still have a long way to go. Aging, healing, and your entire life experience happen through the communication and coordination of your brain and body. Keeping your brain and body engaged and moving each day can help support a healthy life. If you’ve struggled to stay active due to pain, schedule an evaluation with us today.

Disc Issues and Chiropractic

Disc herniations, bulges, protrusions, and extrusions are the most common reasons people visit a chiropractor. Come to think of it, most people see a chiropractor not just because they have a disc issue but because the disc issue has caused a significant impact on their quality of life. Exciting new research has begun to showcase what we have witnessed for years: how chiropractic care provides outstanding results for people with spinal disc issues.

Specific chiropractic techniques are thought to influence the pressure in your spinal discs. Emerging research has shown that movement, reducing intra-discal stress, and opening up the channels your nerves pass through can improve how you feel and accelerate the healing process.

• Keeping your core muscles strong and flexible can decrease your likelihood of suffering a disc bulge or herniation.

• Research has shown spinal adjustments to be very effective at reducing pain caused by disc bulges and herniations.

• Spinal adjustments were found to be more effective than spinal injections for treating
disc issues.

Your body has an incredible ability to heal without drugs or surgery, even from disc herniations. A recent study showcased that people with an MRI-confirmed disc herniation received better results with chiropractic adjustments than injections. If you have an MRI that shows a disc issue, it does NOT mean that surgery or injections are your only options. If you have a disc issue slowing you down, call us today to discover a natural way to find relief.

Facet Joints: Gliding Your Way to Better Health

If you’ve had neck or back pain that you could put a finger on, or sharp pain when moving, it may be due to facet joints of your spine. It’s easy to think of your facet joints as the knuckles of your spine. They are small joints with a capsule and cartilage pad that glide and slide, allowing your spine and body to move.

As you go through life and your spinal discs undergo the aging process, your facet joints take on the extra load. Unfortunately, this excess stress and pressure can wear down your facet joints, resulting in the beginning of the degenerative process, which can cause adhesions, restricted motion, bone spurs, and pain.

• The facet joints of your spine slide and glide as you move.
  • Restrictions or adhesions in the facets can occur with age and injury.
  • Spinal adjustments help the facet joints move freely and decrease painful restrictions.

The facet joints of your spine thrive on movement. Movement helps them stay healthy and may even slow down the degenerative process. Spinal adjustments have been shown to reduce adhesions of the facet joints, allowing you to move more freely with less pain. We believe that when you are moving better, you are feeling better, and we’re proud to be a part of the healthcare team that helps you stay active!

Headaches Every Day? Read This…

Life can be busy and stressful. Sound familiar? If so, you may be more likely to develop headaches that become more frequent and severe. It could be related to a lack of quality sleep, nutritional challenges, or even postural issues contributing to a vicious cycle of daily headaches. These chronic headaches are a good indication that your body needs attention.

Daily headaches are a signal from your body that something needs to change. Depending on the foods you eat, the stress in your life, and how you move your body and spine can increase or decrease the likelihood of experiencing headaches. While researchers have struggled to place an exact cause on every type of headache, they have discovered various risk factors that can lead to chronic headaches.

• Your brain doesn’t have any nerve fibers that transmit pain signals. Headaches are felt by the tissues that support your brain, head, and neck.
• Researchers have discovered a close link between what you eat, your stress, and hormone levels, and how that can impact your chances of developing chronic headaches.
• A balanced diet, consistent sleeping patterns, and chiropractic care have all been shown to decrease the likelihood of developing chronic headaches.

Next Steps:

Daily headaches aren’t something you “have to live with.” Top research publications have found chiropractic care provides 50% more relief to headaches without the risky side effects typically associated with drugs and medications. To learn more, tune into our weekly video series, Research That Matters TV.

How to Find Natural Relief from Headaches

Finding natural relief for your headaches doesn’t mean you must join a food co-op and start eating granola with every meal. Many leading healthcare organizations now recommend natural or organic healthcare solutions because of the reduced dangerous side effects, high patient satisfaction, and fantastic treatment results.

Three of the most effective natural solutions for headaches include magnesium, chiropractic care, and B vitamins. Low levels of magnesium have been linked to migraine headaches. Taking a magnesium supplement can reduce the occurrence of migraine headaches without any of the side effects typically associated with painkillers. B vitamins are a powerful natural way to reduce stress and improve mood. If stress is a significant factor in your headaches- B vitamins may be a natural fit for relief. Finally, postural changes and muscle tension are the leading causes of migraine headaches. Chiropractic care has been shown to help reduce headaches’ frequency, severity, and duration. That’s what I call a winning trifecta!

• Magnesium: Low levels of magnesium have been reported as a risk factor for
  migraine headaches.
• Chiropractic: Researchers have discovered a reduction in the frequency, severity, and duration of headaches for individuals under chiropractic care.
• B-Vitamins: These powerful vitamins have the potential to help reduce stress and improve mood, which are essential factors when finding relief from headaches

As you can see, finding natural relief from headaches can be easy. What would your life look like if you could reduce or eliminate chronic headaches?

The Top 3 Causes of Headaches

A variety of factors can cause primary headaches. The good news is that many lifestyle
factors are habits and patterns you can control. Discover the top 3 causes of headaches in our new blog.

A variety of factors can cause primary headaches. Understanding a few of the most common causes of headaches will give you the information to make the changes needed to find lasting relief! The good news is that many lifestyle factors are habits and patterns you can control.

Ironically, one of the most common causes of headaches is the medication usually prescribed to treat headaches. Overusing over-the-counter medications is a leading factor in a refractory or bounce-back headache, so pills may not be the best option for care. Many tension headaches start with repetitive motion and poor posture while sitting or standing at work. Keeping your shoulders back and your spine in proper alignment throughout the day can help prevent future episodes. And finally- most of the good stuff like coffee, cheese, alcohol, and meats have substances that can cause headaches. You don’t need to eliminate them, but we recommend having a watchful eye towards moderation.

• Medications: Many commonly prescribed pain-relieving medications (including those prescribed for headache relief) list headaches as a top side effect.
• Foods: coffee, cheese, alcohol, and many types of meat contain substances that can contribute to headaches.
• Posture: forward head posture due to long hours sitting or standing at work is a primary factor in the development of tension and cervicogenic headaches.

Do you see anything in the top 3 causes that may be contributing to your headaches? Taking a proactive step of improving your posture and ergonomics at work, moderating the foods that cause headaches, or asking your medical doctor about the side effects of medications and potentially finding alternative treatment options may help you reduce the frequency, severity, and impact of headaches are having in your life.

Headache Types: The Facts You Need to Know

Death, taxes, and…headaches? Almost everyone will experience a headache at some point in their life, and over 50% of people will deal with the effects of a headache in a given year. Fortunately, headaches are rarely life threatening. But for people dealing with chronic headaches, they can dramatically impact your quality of life.

The International Headache Society has classified over 150 different types of headaches. The most common are migraines, tension, and cluster headaches. Knowing what kind of headache you are dealing with is the first step toward finding the best care plan to find relief.

• Migraine: sensitivity to light and sound is common during migraine headaches. Approximately 1/3rd of people will experience an aura before the onset of a migraine.
• Tension: Almost everyone will experience a tension headache during their life. Stress, anxiety, dehydration, and even posture can trigger a tension headache.
• Cluster: Affecting more men than women, cluster headaches cause severe pain behind or around your eye and last between 15 minutes and 3 hours.

Now that you’ve identified your headache type- it’s important to know why it’s happened. Often, a few simple changes in your daily routine can potentially reduce or eliminate chronic headaches for good. Next week, we’ll cover the top 3 causes of headaches so you can take your first steps towards prevention.