Conservative Care First: A Sensible, Effective Approach to Back and Neck Pain

The above headline comes from the July 28, 2014, Digital Journal release from the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). In their release, they announced that October will be "National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM)." The ACA notes that they are, "...working with the more than 130,000 doctors of chiropractic (DCs), chiropractic assistants (CAs) and chiropractic doctoral students nationwide to help educate the public and policymakers about the value of a 'conservative care first' approach to health care."

The release emphasizes the value of considering conservative care as a first choice for health problems like back and neck pain. The ACA defines conservative care to include chiropractic, as well as exercise and stretching. They note that these approaches are both safe and cost effective.

The ACA release lists three major reasons why the public should consider conservative care first. These are:

1. Numerous recent studies have clearly shown the dangerous over reliance in the U.S. on prescription painkillers that simply mask pain, but do not cure. This has tremendously increased Americans’ risk for overuse, and abuse, of these drugs if taken for long periods, leading to more than 17,000 related deaths in 2010 (more than heroin and cocaine combined). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the abuse of prescription pain medications an "epidemic".
2. Recent evidence questions the overuse--and in some cases the effectiveness--of more invasive treatments such as spinal fusion surgery and spinal steroid injections for back pain. It is reasonable for patients to exhaust more conservative options before undergoing these costly procedures.
3. Chiropractic physicians are the highest-rated healthcare practitioners for low-back pain treatments with their patient-centered, whole-person approach that provides greater interaction and communication for appropriate diagnosis and developing more cost-effective treatment planning.

"People need complete information about their treatment options," said ACA President Anthony Hamm, DC. "During National Chiropractic Health Month, DCs are encouraging patients to ask questions and learn about safe, effective conservative approaches that may help them avoid riskier and more costly treatments."