New guidelines from the American College of Physicians promote conservative care and non-pharmacological therapies as a first line of defense against pain.
On Monday, the ACP published an update to its guidelines for the treatment of lower back pain which had previously advocated for medication as first-line therapy.
The new focus prioritizes noninvasive treatment such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy. The shift comes as numerous states across the nation take measures aimed at reducing prescription painkillers. As the country struggles with an epidemic of opioid addiction, American doctors must rethink their approach towards prescribing.On top of growing concerns of opioid addiction and side effects, as the New York Times notes, doctors have regularly been coerced with marketing incentives towards medications, scans and injections.
The new guidelines advise doctors to avoid prescribing opioid painkillers, anti-inflammatories, or muscle relaxants for back pain.
Alternatively, doctors should steer their patients to therapies like exercise and yoga and complimentary care practices such as acupuncture, massage therapy and chiropractic.
No matter what treatment group patients opt for, the guidelines stress that any of these options will help patients get better. As is the case with most temporary back pain, staying active can be a key part of recovery. While this may seem like a catch-22 for those who are in pain and want to refrain from their normal routines, working with a physical medicine professional or acupuncturist can help those in pain set safe goals as their body heals.
Conservative care is a growing priority for its practical and pragmatic nature. On top of reducing pain, these modalities can enhance the bodies recovery and immune response. What’s more conservative care, by design, is considered nearly risk-free. Most modalities are natural and free of side-effects. While you may find out that you truly enjoy alternative therapy, for the most part, these therapies are non-habit forming.
At the end of the day, alternative therapy is very likely to help you and even if it doesn’t, simply put: it cannot hurt you.
At Aligned Modern Health, we take pride in leading the Chicagoland in evidence-based, complementary and integrative healthcare. We offer patients a uniquely reliable, trustworthy resource in complementary, integrative healthcare with non-invasive treatments including:
- Acupuncture: bridging eastern and western perspectives to treat pain, infertility, stress & anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and women’s health conditions,
- Chiropractic Physical Medicine: rehab-intensive approach to Chiropractic for musculoskeletal conditions experienced by expectant mothers, competitive athletes, office workers, and everyone in between.
- Functional Medicine & Clinical Nutrition: customized dietary and lifestyle interventions informed by laboratory diagnostics for gastro-intestinal issues, weight conditions, fatigue, and autoimmune disorders.
- Massage Therapy: deep tissue, therapeutic techniques for musculoskeletal problems.
As the #1 rated complementary health provider in Chicago on Yelp.com, we pride ourselves in an outstanding patient experience and we strive to provide a five-star experience for every patient that walks through our doors.
If you have questions about non-invasive therapy options for pain relief, contact us for a complimentary consultation by visiting us online or calling 773.598.4387.
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