Chiropractic has long been used by those wanting to avoid taking pain medication. Research is now showing how effective chiropractic is at helping those with low back pain avoid opioid use.
A study with nearly a quarter million low back pain patients compared initial and long-term opioid use with choice of initial provider (medical doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or acupuncturist).The study concluded:“Patients who received initial treatment from chiropractors or physical therapists had decreased odds of short-term and long-term opioid use compared with those who received initial treatment from medical doctors.”1
Another study looked at opioid use of those with spinal pain who used chiropractic and those who did not. Chiropractic users had a 64% lower chance of receiving an opioid prescription than nonusers.2
opiod-crisis-chiroupSean Flynn, DC
Sioux City, IA Chiropractor
1. Kazis LE, Ameli O, Rothendler J, et al. Observational retrospective study of the association of initial healthcare provider for new-onset low back pain with early and long-term opioid use. BMJ Open 2019;9:e028633. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028633.
2. Corcoran KL, Bastian LA, Gunderson CG, Steffens C, Brackett A, Lisi AJ. Association Between Chiropractic Use and Opioid Receipt Among Patients with Spinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Pain Medicine. 2019 Sep 27.