If you experienced any injury in the past, painkillers are among the first medications you get. Painkillers are not always worth the risk. Some opioid painkillers can cause more problems than making solutions.
In 2014 alone, around 28,000 people died from overdosing on opioid painkillers. Painkillers can provide relief, but the side effects can be a problem. Some people are now trying to find alternatives, and one of these is chiropractic. Is it safe? Is chiropractic care more effective than painkillers for pain relief? Let’s find out.
Understanding Painkillers and Chiropractic Care
Before we go towards finding out which is better between chiropractic care and painkillers, we need to understand both ideas first. Painkillers are drugs that medical professionals provide to relieve pain. Professionals administer them to reduce the pain we feel in our nervous system so we can function. Most pain medication is safe for consumption, but some can cause a problem.
Opioid painkillers are drugs with effects that are addictive. Some known examples include morphine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), and codeine. If you experienced an accident, opioid painkillers tend to be the best solution.
There has been a steady increase in deaths by prescription drug overdose over the years. Part of this is attributable to the wrong attitudes towards addiction risk factors in patients. The problem comes from how opioids kill pain, not because they do.
Opioid painkillers are addictive because they bind to your brain’s receptors. These opioid receptors trigger feelings of pleasure in people, and this feeling is why people take more.
Chiropractic care, on the other hand, is the method of adjusting misalignments in your joints. This method can relieve pain when a body part is exerting pressure on another. With adjustments, chiropractic professionals who adjust your spine and the other parts of your body.
The Advantages of Painkillers and Chiropractic Care
Much like any method, both painkillers and chiropractic have their own sets of advantages. One is not better than the other, but rather work on two different sets of pain relief routes.
Painkillers are systemic, which means they will help target your entire body when it’s in pain. Naproxen, for example, is excellent for the relief of joint pains, while Ibuprofen is good for muscle pain. Opioid medications help mask the pain so you can work towards relief. Chiropractic care is useful for issues on joints, muscles, the neck, or the spine. If you were in a car accident before, the trauma could’ve misaligned your spine. Chiropractic work is effective in correcting physical issues.
The Downside of Chiropractic Care and Pain Medication
Much like any route, however, both also have their problems. Painkillers have different side effects that can be an issue. It can be anything from drowsiness, lethargy to respiratory depression.
The biggest issue with opioid painkillers is addiction or dependence.
Opioid painkillers are addictive and can cause people to overdose if they’re not under strict regulation. The body can also build tolerance for its analgesia. Chiropractic care has its downsides too. Not all pain can go away from chiropractic adjustments. It can only handle musculoskeletal issues and, at most, problems that come from lousy body positioning. Chiropractic has no proven studies that show its effectiveness for other types of pain. Practitioners do not hold medical degrees, and most evidence to its efficacy is anecdotal. Many studies even show that its effects are not better than placebo.
Finding the Best Option for You
Whatever choices you pick between chiropractic care and the use of pain medication, there are options. For starters, all medical professionals endorse a lifestyle change for people who underwent severe physical trauma. Eating right, removing vices like smoking and alcohol and exercise can change your life.
Meditation can be an excellent way to reduce pain from a past accident. The breathing exercises and mental fortitude can help deal with phantom pain. Recovery is not a matter of a single treatment solving all your problems. Pain recovery is a matter of holistic care, taking good care of your body from all aspects. Discipline can go a long way in helping you deal with pain and even potential addiction.
If you have lingering pain from a vehicular accident, talk to your doctor what’s the best route. Many will even offer a combination of pain medication and chiropractic care in tandem. Don’t take advice from anyone who doesn’t have the appropriate license.
In Pain from an Accident? A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
Is chiropractic care better for pain relief than painkillers? Not in its entirety. Both chiropractic care and painkillers have their advantages and disadvantages. Discipline, lifestyle changes, and following your doctor’s orders are a crucial factor.
If you’re are a victim of an accident and in extreme pain, talk to a personal injury lawyer. Get what you deserve and find the justice that’s right for you. Don’t be a victim. Consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer today.
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