Chiropractic: The Natural Approach to Back Pain

Chiropractic is based on the philosophy of enabling your body to naturally heal through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that encourage overall health. For Dr. Ernst, this involves working hard to reestablish your body's natural performance to avoid the need for drugs or surgery. We notice that most of our Arlington patients are relieved to find a natural solution for their health problems.

One benefit of chiropractic care is that it helps people decrease or even eliminate the use of drugs. Prescriptions are frequently supplied to patients who have back problems. This is such a serious crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a news release stating that opioid (painkiller) risks outweigh the advantages when prescribed for back pain.

Some of the most well-known narcotics, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Figures provided by the AAN cite the fact that about 50% of the patients taking these drugs for a period of three months are still taking them five years later. This can further complicate the difficulty of back pain and recovery, especially if an opiate dependency arises.

Contrast that to chiropractic which involves natural healing and the benefits are clear. While a medication might be useful at temporarily suppressing the discomfort of a health condition, it's not a solution to the problem. A drug won't mend your injured spine; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. Ernst will first examine you to get to the origin of your back problems and then work with you to address the problem -- without risky medications.

If you're ready to get out of pain, naturally, give our Arlington office a call at (360) 659-8464 to make an appointment with Dr. Ernst.

References

• Risk of opioids outweigh benefits for headache, low back pain, other conditions. American Academy of Neurology;September 29, 2014.
• What are opioids? National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/opioids/what-are-opioids