MD OR CHIROPRACTOR FOR NECK OR BACK PAIN TREATMENT

MD OR CHIROPRACTOR FOR NECK OR BACK PAIN TREATMENT? RESEARCH SHOWS HOW CHIROPRACTIC TOPS MEDICAL

A recently published study evaluated medical vs. chiropractic management of neck and back pain issues. This paper looked at the findings of 44 different papers comparing medical management in comparison to chiropractic management of spine related pain. 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Here is a quote of the overall findings of the study: “Spinal pain patients who consulted chiropractors as first providers needed fewer opioid prescriptions, surgeries, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, specialist referrals and injection procedures.”

THE FINDINGS

Here are all the ways that chiropractic care was found to result in lowered overall healthcare utilization and cost in comparison to medical management:

  • Diagnostic Imaging: 15 studies found that chiropractic care resulted in less advanced imaging like MRI.

  • Opioids: 11 studies found chiropractic care resulted in fewer opioid prescriptions.

  • Surgery: Eight studies found patients underwent fewer surgeries with chiropractic care.

  • Hospitalization: Seven studies found chiropractic care resulted in fewer hospitalizations.

  • First Provider: Six studies associated lower other costs with a chiropractor as the first provider.

  • Injections: Five studies found decreased use of injections with chiropractic care.

  • Specialist Visits: Five studies associated chiropractic care with fewer referrals to specialists.

  • ER Visits: Two studies found chiropractic care resulted in fewer emergency department visits. 

READING BETWEEN THE LINES

Just in case it isn’t obvious here, a main reason for the lower incidence of advanced imaging, opioid prescriptions, surgery, hospitalizations, lower costs, fewer injections and fewer specialists is…..drumroll…

…RESULTS!

There is no other reason. If people weren’t getting well with chiropractic care then they would have more diagnostic studies, get more opioid prescriptions, have more surgery, go to the hospital more, get more injections, and see more specialists. 

CHIROPRACTIC DOESN’T FIT THE MEDICAL MODEL

Take a good look at the typical medical treatment for almost anything and you will see a pattern. What is that pattern?

The pattern is that medicine is much more concerned with managing the symptoms of a condition or managing a condition than it is with solving the underlying problem. 

Here are a few examples:

  • Arthritis of the Spine: medicine uses anti-inflammatory medications to manage the pain. The problem is this does nothing to slow the progression of arthritis and actually has been shown to make the arthritis worse. 

  • Headaches: medicine here resorts to pain medication but outside of ruling out a tumor, it is not concerned with the underlying cause of the headaches. 

Our entire healthcare system is built on managing conditions from digestive problems to high blood pressure to anxiety. There is tremendous profit to be made by selling drugs that do nothing to improve a condition, and only manage the symptoms.

Sometimes that approach is absolutely necessary but it is my opinion as a chiropractor with over 35 years of experience, practicing in Grass Valley at Life Chiropractic, that effort should always be made to correct or at the very least improve the underlying imbalance that is resulting in pain and illness. 

THE CHIROPRACTIC MODEL

Chiropractic is based on the understanding that the body is continually striving to stay in balance and without any interference, is self-healing. 

Since the master system responsible for regulating balance and coordinating healing is the nervous system, the focus of chiropractic is on removing nervous system interference so that the body may heal itself and maintain health. 

If this interests you and you live in Nevada County, schedule your initial visit with Life Chiropractic of Grass Valley here:  Schedule Here.

About Dr. Berkowitz  

Bringing more than 3 decades of practice experience, Dr. Bill Berkowitz focuses on balancing and corrective care, applying his expertise to provide patients with predictable, repeatable and measurable results.

Dr. Bill consistently strives to enhance the well-being of his patients by addressing the root imbalances of their problems and promoting optimal balance, alignment, and function of the spine and nervous system.  

Bill’s wealth of knowledge and experience has allowed him to develop a nuanced understanding of the human body and its intricate connections. With each adjustment, he supports the body in returning to a state of balance that goes beyond mere symptom relief, focusing instead on long-term correction for his patients’ well-being.