Can Chiropractic Care Help Reduce the Need for Medication?

Chronic pain sufferers are often prescribed opioid pain relievers to help manage their discomfort. At our Edinburgh chiropractic clinic our chiropractors regularly hear from patients that they would prefer to manage their symptoms without relying on long-term medication use. The use of painkillers can allow people enough relief to get through the day. However, the root cause of the issue often remains unaddressed and there may be unwanted side-effects that can affect sleep, mood and even digestion.

A large study in 2020 found that patients who visited both their medical practitioner and their chiropractor for spinal pain required fewer opioid (a form of painkiller) prescriptions than if they were receiving medication alone. The study strongly suggests that chiropractic patients require less opioid medication than non-chiropractic patients. In fact, patients were half as likely to need medication if they were visiting a chiropractor!

One Chiropractic specialises in diagnostic and treatment protocols that identify the root cause of pain to ensure that symptoms are relieved as soon as possible and stay that way. Alongside specific chiropractic care, rehabilitation exercises and lifestyle advise is always included as part of your care plan. Chiropractors do not provide medical advice regarding medication and any changes need to be discussed with your GP first. However, the above study demonstrates that receiving chiropractic care alongside traditional medical advice can significantly reduce the amount of painkillers patients take to manage spinal conditions such as back and neck pain.

Source:
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain