This is a hard topic for me because every day in the office I have patients who are desperate to have a better life, but due to the pain they have, they are addicted to opioids and their controlling side effects. They don’t know where to turn. Common opioids are: Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol, Morphine, and Codeine. They work by reducing the intensity of pain messages to the brain and affect the areas of the brain that perceives pain and controls emotion. Opioids do nothing to help the cause of your pain, only dull it! Pain is, in my mind, God’s way of telling you something is wrong that needs your attention! Covering up your pain is NOT the answer!
A study published in the Journal of Neurology 2014 “Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain”, a position paper of the Academy of Neurology, states the following:
- Before the later part of the 1990’s. The use of long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain (more than three months) was prohibited
- Since policy changes in the late 1990’s, over 100,000 persons have died, directly or indirectly from prescribed opioids in the U.S.
- When workers are given opioids for low back injuries, there is a doubling of the development of long-term disability.
- Studies show that long-term use of opioid pain drugs causes them to lose their analgesic effect and tolerance can not be overcome by dose escalation.
What does all of this say? Use of opioids, especially over three months, will make long-term disability twice as likely, and you will still have your pain because they lose their effectiveness covering up your pain! The side effects are a long list, with death the ultimate side effect for over 100,000 people.
This next fact is totally heartbreaking, over 20,000 babies are born with addiction every year! These numbers stem from mothers who knew of no other alternative for pain relief than to take drugs. Could Chiropractic help? Maybe not all 20,000 but a large percentage of mothers would respond to Chiropractic Care and lifestyle changes! People need to know there are options to opioids in most cases, and the fact to remember, opioids do nothing for the cause of their problem! I know this is one Chiropractor who would do anything to help even one of those babies avoid the horrors of an addiction they had nothing to do with.
If you are reading this, you are likely considering Chiropractic for yourself or a loved one. Be sure to share what you know about opioids and their addictive side effects as well as the positive results Chiropractic gets and which also provides long-term benefit. Chiropractic provides solutions!
If you live in the Columbus, NE area and have questions, give our office a call. It may be the most important call you will ever make if you or a loved one are taking an opioid drug.