A Drug-Free Approach to Back Pain Recovery

Chiropractic is centered on the approach of helping your body to heal naturally through spinal adjustments and lifestyle changes that encourage wellness. For Dr. Matthisen, this means working hard to reestablish your body's natural performance to avoid the need for drugs or surgical treatments. We find that many of our Anchorage patients are pleased to find a natural approach for their health issues.

One advantage of chiropractic is that it helps people minimize or even eliminate the use of drugs. Prescription medications are oftentimes supplied to individuals who have back pain. This is such a significant problem that the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a news release stating that opioid (painkiller) risks overshadow the benefits 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 supplied by the AAN cite the fact that approximately half of the people taking these drugs for a period of three months are still dependent on them five years down the road. This can further complicate the issue of back pain and healing, particularly if an narcotic dependency arises.

Compare that to chiropractic care which features natural healing and the benefits are obvious. While a pill might be useful at temporarily reducing the discomfort of a health issue, it's not a long-term solution to the problem. A drug won't mend your injured spine; it will only conceal the pain.

Dr. Matthisen will first examine you to get to the source of your back pain and then work with you to eliminate the problem -- without risky medications.

If you're ready for pain relief, naturally, give our Anchorage office a call at (907) 349-4212 to make an appointment with Dr. Matthisen.

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