According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 50 million American adults—just over 1 in 5 people—live with chronic pain, with over a third of those suffering from pain severe enough to frequently limit work or daily activities. For patients affected by pain nearly every day, prescription painkillers like opioids may be the solution they’re offered to alleviate the discomfort that impacts their ability to function normally. After all, prescribing pain medication is a quick remedy in an overburdened medical system. However, that approach can be the source of additional problems rather than a true solution.

The opioid addiction crisis in the U.S. has made many patients wary of using drugs such as oxycodone or hydrocodone to treat problems like back pain. Some want to avoid this class of medication because they’ve experienced problems with addiction in the past. Others don’t want to risk developing a dependence on pain relievers. These fears are well-founded. In 2019 over 10 million people aged 12 and older misused opioids, per figures from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The more significant problem with the use of painkillers to deal with chronic pain is the fact that it doesn’t truly solve the problem. Pain relievers may mask the symptoms, but on their own, they don’t eliminate the source of the pain. When patients attempt to get off the pills, they’re left with the same agony they had in the first place—while they may not fall victim to the physical dependence that drives opioid abuse, they can’t stop taking the medication without experiencing debilitating pain again. Sometimes they’re told surgery is the only answer left. If this is you, another answer for your back, neck, hip, and other kinds of chronic pain is possible. Chiropractic treatment can help determine and treat the root cause of your pain to give you your life back.

How Chiropractic Treatment Helps

Back and neck pain can stem from a variety of causes. They might result from an accident or injury at work, while playing sports, or while driving your car. They might develop over time from overuse, poor posture, or bad ergonomics. Back pain isn’t the only sign something might be amiss with your spine, though. Misalignments in the back and neck can also cause problems like headaches, sciatica (which is characterized by pain in the hip and down the leg), or nerve pain and numbness in the hands and feet.

The proper function of the spine relies on the correct alignment of the vertebrae and the disks between them, in conjunction with the muscles that support and provide movement. Chiropractic treatment is designed to identify the cause of pain and restricted movement and then devise a treatment protocol that will bring the joints back into proper alignment. Although adjustments will often provide at least partial pain relief from the first session, treatment is focused on the long-term goal of restoring stability and movement to the spine to ensure ongoing freedom from pain.

The Divine Spine Difference

Unfortunately, some chronic pain patients avoid chiropractic care because they are only familiar with traditional methods. The thought of undergoing jarring, possibly painful adjustments that involve twisting or cracking the spine can sound alarming if you’re already suffering daily. That isn’t what you’ll experience at Divine Spine. Our advanced methods use computerized technology to deliver gentle, precisely targeted adjustments without any harsh sudden movements. This unique approach is designed for the utmost comfort and safety as our patients undergo treatment.

Divine Spine in the City of Orange has worked with patients of all ages to not only treat chronic pain problems but also to support overall wellness. We pair our corrective treatment and maintenance care with overall lifestyle plans that help you keep the gains you’ve achieved and prevent problems from returning. If you’re sick of taking medication to mask your pain, Divine Spine can help. To schedule your free initial consultation in Orange Hills, contact us here today.