Local Alternative Pain Therapies Could Help Quell the Opioid Crisis

Earlier last year, The American College of Physicians (ACP), who are the largest medical specialty organization in the United States, recommended in an evidence-based clinical practice guideline published in Annals of Internal Medicine that physicians and patients should treat acute or subacute low back pain with non-drug therapies first, such as chiropractic adjustments of the spine, acupuncture, massage and heat, to name a few.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health have stated opioid research and pain research as top priorities, and the pandemic has brought to light a new thinking on how and when to use opioids in pain management. In 2009 the CDC released a statement that “Sitting is the New Smoking”, meaning that 8 hours of sitting has the same compression effect on your heart and lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes per day. In 2016, the CDC released new pain management guidelines recommending that opioids should be considered for pain management only after non-opioid pharmacological treatments and non-drug treatments, or in tandem with the other methods.

Dr. Chris Cedars a licensed Chiropractor says, if you can treat your pain first with out the use of drugs including opioids, you have 95% eliminated the possibility of becoming addicted to pain medication.

“Chiropractic care has three phases; Relief care where the problem is stopped from getting any worse, then Retraining where the problem is stabilized and strengthened, then lastly, Prevention which includes a routine schedule keeping your spine and nervous system healthy. This is done by checking your nervous system for any interference and preforming a specific Chiropractic adjustment if needed.  Having your spine checked helps your body heal itself, and express life as to prevent you from having multiple flare ups over the year” says Dr. Cedars, who has his own Clinic, Life Chiropractic Grass Valley.

Many people think chiropractic care has helped them get out of pain and the message that Health is not How you Feel,  but How you Function, keeps them motivated to be proactive about their health.

The Alternative to Opioids starts with being aware of the options out there to deal with pain. Don’t wait until you are sick, maintain your health! The goal is to live long & be healthy, achieving a more effective life, maintaining full function & well-being. The goal of chiropractic care is correction of dis-ease, nervous system interference also called (subluxation), restored function & enhancement of well-being allowing the body to be at ease and harmony.

Good Doctors make patients aware of their role & responsibility in maintaining their health and educate their patients with ALL the options of care. Chiropractors are a resource for patients as gate keepers in the healthcare system because they are Primary Care doctors in California.  This means they can be your family’s doctor and tell you when you need to be referred out for additional integrated care.

The first line of defense dealing with pain is not only our own lifestyle choices but, Non-invasive sustainable treatments for  acute, subacute, and chronic pain including Acupuncture, Chiropractic, Naturopathic remedies, or Massage.

Chris Cedars DC

Doctor of Chiropractic

Life Chiropractic Grass Valley

530.559.6457