You’ve likely seen news stories regularly on the opioid crisis in America. North Carolina is not immune from this, and almost everyone has a loved one who has been affected. With this in mind, it’s important to be thinking about how to reduce the amount of opioids being taken, as it will reduce the number of people at risk of becoming dependent. Chiropractic care is a very effective alternative for many people in reducing their pain.

Types of pain

Pain is categorized differently depending on how it behaves over time.

Acute pain – Pain that is short lasting, six weeks or less, is said to be acute. It is often from an injury or sudden change, and the body can recover and heal itself relatively quickly.

Chronic pain – If the pain continues for longer than six weeks, it is classified as chronic pain. This type of pain may be due to more difficult medical issues that linger without being resolved.

Intractable pain – Ongoing pain that is so intense that the patient cannot live comfortably is called intractable pain. If surgery is likely to help, that is often recommended by their doctor. Other times, those living with intractable pain are left with no good options and are put on opioid pain medications.

Can chiropractic care help?

Each case is different, both in its diagnosis and its treatment. That being said, there are many cases where patients report chiropractic care has helped them recover and has provided great pain relief.

With acute pain, like after a car accident or other injury, the patient may be prescribed painkillers to deal with the recovery period. Receiving chiropractic care could be a way to relieve suffering without risking becoming dependent on these strong narcotics.

Those experiencing ongoing pain have seen pain relief as well. Muscle imbalances, inflammation, sciatica, herniated discs, disintegrating discs and many more problems affecting the spine can cause years of pain. Returning mobility to the joints and vertebrae and fixing muscle imbalances often reduces the need for other treatments, including the use of medications. This will depend on circumstances of course and will vary for each person.

Oak City Chiropractic

There is nothing that makes us happier than to see someone walk in grimacing in pain and to walk out a short time later visibly feeling better. This is why we love coming to work every morning. If you are in pain and think that chiropractic care may help, Oak City Chiropractic is conveniently located in Raleigh off St. Mary’s St. downtown and is here to serve residents of the greater Triangle in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and beyond.