CDC recommends sharp reduction in prescriptions of opioids
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has entered the national conversation around the use of opioids to treat chronic pain.
The United States has seen a sharp increase in the use and abuse of pharmacological pain management medications that are prescribed to treat chronic pain.
As a result, the CDC has issued a number of guidelines for physicians. The main recommendation is the use of non-pharmacological treatment and therapy as the preferred method for treatment of chronic non-cancer pain.
What are non-pharmacological treatments for chronic pain?
Depending on the severity, location, and length of time you have experienced your chronic pain, we may suggest one or more of the following alternative pain management solutions:
- Acupuncture: This ancient Eastern practice involves inserting several small needles into the skin at different pain centers to change the flow of energy in the body. Acupuncture allows the body to self-heal by releasing energy from main trigger points, thereby reducing or eliminating inflammation, pain, and nausea.
- Chiropractic Treatment: Regular chiropractic adjustments are an attractive method of chronic pain management for patients struggling with neck, spine, and lower back pain.
- Massage Therapy: Deep tissue, Swedish, and hot stone massages are just some of the alternative management techniques we can use to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Physical Therapy: Regular physical therapy sessions help you regain strength in areas weakened by an accident or illness.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation: We use this low-voltage electric stimulation to relieve pain by connecting two electrodes to the closest nerve fibers.
When is opioid treatment appropriate?
The CDC states that use of opioids to treat chronic pain should only be used if the benefit of pain relief outweighs the potential risk of patient addiction/dependency and overdose.
According to data released by the CDC, in 2013, more than 16,000 people died in the United States from overdose related to opioid pain relievers, four times the number in 1999.
Learn More About Your Non-Pharmacological Chronic Pain Treatment Options
Our staff is happy to answer your questions about our chronic pain relief treatment methods as well as the types of conditions we treat using natural therapies.
