A Natural Approach to Back Pain

Chiropractic is based on the approach of helping your body to heal naturally through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that promote wellness. For Dr. Ernst, this means working hard to reestablish your body's natural functioning to avoid the need for medications or surgery. We see that most of our Arlington, WA patients are happy to find a natural answer for their health conditions.

One benefit of chiropractic is that it helps people decrease or even eliminate the use of drug treatments. Medications are frequently supplied to individuals who have back soreness. This is such a serious crisis that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a press release stating that opioid (painkiller) risks overshadow the benefits when administered for back pain.

Some of the most popular opiates, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine, and codeine. Figures provided by the AAN mention the fact that approximately 50% of the people taking these drugs for a period of three months are still on them five years down the road. This can further complicate the difficulty of back pain and recovery, particularly if an narcotic addiction occurs.

Compare that to chiropractic care which engages natural healing and the benefits are evident. While a pill might be helpful at temporarily reducing the discomfort of a health issue, it's not a solution to the problem. Drugs can't fix your injured back; it will only cover up the pain.

Dr. Ernst will first examine you to get to the source of your back pain and then work with you to eliminate the spinal interference -- without the need for risky medications.

If you're ready to get out of pain, naturally, give our Arlington, WA 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