February 14, 2017: New evidence-based clinical practice guidelines were published by the American College of Physicians encouraging medical physicians to seek the use of non-pharmacologic therapies for patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic low back pain. These therapies include superficial heat, massage, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation. This recommendation comes as a result of a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine recommending that “Physicians should avoid prescribing unnecessary tests and costly and potentially harmful drugs, especially narcotics, for these patients.”
“Clinicians should advise patients with acute or subacute low back pain to select a non-pharmacologic approach to treat their condition. These treatments include superficial heat, massage, acupuncture or spinal manipulation. NSAIDs or skeletal muscle relaxants should be used if pharmacologic treatment is desired. Acetaminophen and systematic steroids were ineffective in treating acute or subacute low back pain”.
“Non-pharmacologic treatment, such as exercise, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, acupuncture, mindfulness-based stress reduction, Tai Chi, yoga, motor control exercise, progressive relaxation, electromyography biofeedback, low level laser therapy, operant therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or spinal manipulation, should initially be used to treat chronic low back pain.”
Chiropractic treatment, nutrition, exercise, massage, and acupuncture need to be considered first when patients experience musculoskeletal injuries. Long-term opioid use often begins with treatment of acute pain, and currently 80% of heroin addicts started with reliance on prescribed opioid pain medications.
Ohioans need to realize that Chiropractic physicians can:
- Provide comprehensive case management and care to patients who seek treatment for acute musculoskeletal injuries
- Provide pain relief and increased functional improvement to patient’s who present with acute, sub-acute and or chronic pain
- Provide a solution to the ongoing, escalating prescribed opioid drug crisis
- Reduce surgery utilization which reduces/eliminates the probability of developing, additional health problems and life threatening situations
- Reduce the total cost of treatment. Studies show significantly reduced health insurance costs when care is initiated with a Chiropractic Physician first.
If you are suffering from low back pain, consider chiropractic first. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment please give us a call at (330) 726-7404.