The painful truth is that Americans spend a great deal of time and money when it comes to treating pain. According to a 2008 article in TIME magazine, more than a quarter of Americans suffer from pain, costing the country about $60 billion in lost productivity. We also spend a sizeable portion of our income on pain medications. According to WebMD, approximately $86 billion is spent per year, just to treat neck and back pain. No matter how you look at it, that is a sizeable amount of lost productivity, money, and time due to trying to treat pain through conventional methods.

But what if there was a more effective, cheaper way to treat pain? One that did not have any of the side effects or risks of pain medication? Chiropractic adjustments may be able to do just that.

Problems with Pain Medications

Almost all pain medications come with side effects and possible adverse events. These can range from upset stomach, to increased risk for bleeding, to excessive sleepiness, to constipation.

In addition, some pain medications should not be combined with other medications or certain foods because the strength of either medication may be increased or decreased. Grapefruit is a well-known example of a food that should not be combined with certain medications. One of the compounds in grapefruit may prevent the body from eliminating doses of the drug. The body can then build up toxic medication levels. In essence, a patient can accidentally overdose on the drug if it is combined with grapefruit juice.

With some pain medications, particularly opioids, there is the risk of addiction. This may then lead to even more difficulties for patients, not only with friends and family members who may not understand, but also with any rehab program they may enter. Furthermore, even if patients successfully complete a rehab program, they may still be left dealing with their pain issues.

Benefits of Chiropractic for Managing Pain

The biggest advantage of chiropractic adjustments for treating pain is the dramatically reduced risk of side effects and adverse events. Through a series of gentle, gradual adjustments to the spine and body joints, pressure on the nerves can be reduced or eliminated entirely. Because it is done gently and gradually, chiropractic does not add any additional stress to the body and can actually help the body release toxins that may be causing the pain. As the body becomes accustomed to its new position following chiropractic adjustments, patients may find that they have extended pain-free periods.

Another benefit of chiropractic that many may have not considered is that it may actually cost less over tine. For example, a month’s supply of Lyrica, which is often used to treat fibromyalgia pain symptoms, can cost around $200 without insurance. Compare that with the cost of one chiropractic office visit, and it is not hard to see that chiropractic care also makes good financial sense compared to pain medications.

Dr. Nathen Horst believes that chiropractic care should be available to all who want it. He sees it as a natural, healthy alternative to pain medication. Contact Horst Chiropractic to schedule an appointment.