Noninvasive, Non-drug Treatment for Chronic Pain Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research

The US Dept of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Qualtity and Research (ACQH) has released the draft of a report that assesses evidence on noninvasive, non-drug treatments for common chronic pain conditions. It states that exercise, acupuncture, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, mind-body and mindfulness practices and psychological therapies may improve function or pain outcomes for specific chronic pain conditions.
Do you see more use of the above treatments helping with the opioid crisis in our country?
Noninvasive, Nonpharmacological Treatment for Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review

What Patients Love About Chiropractic: NHIS Survey

Findings from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey, "the most recent source providing data on the use of complementary health care approaches by adults in the United States," The survey showed that 24% of Americans have received chiropractic care and that 90.3% said it helped with their problem. 
Do you know of any other types of treatment with a 90% satisfaction rating?

What Patients Love About Chiropractic: NHIS Survey

Recent issue of the Harvard Health Letter states "For back sprains, strains, and herniated discs, a visit to your primary care physician or chiropractor may be all it takes to feel better. Make that initial call if back pain is interfering with your day." Also "A well-trained chiropractor will sort out whether you should be in their care or the care of a physical therapist or medical doctor." 
Do you think this is good advice?Where to turn for low back pain relief

Chiropractic Services Relieve Low Back Pain in Female Veterans: Study Legislation to expand access to chiropractic in the VA gains new momentum

A new study finds that female veterans—one of the fastest growing populations receiving treatment through the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system—experience improvement in low back pain with a course of chiropractic care.
Two more representatives have joined forces to broaden the range of services and care options available to veterans by supporting the Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act (H.R. 103). The bill—supported by several major veterans groups—would require chiropractic services to be offered at all VA medical centers and codify chiropractic care as a standard benefit for veterans using VA health care. There is a bipartisan companion bill in the Senate.
Do you think this change would be beneficial for our veterans?
Chiropractic Services Relieve Low Back Pain in Female Veterans: Study Legislation to expand access to chiropractic in the VA gains new momentum

Chiropractic Instead of Opioids: Million-Patient Study

A study published last year involving more than 12,000 LBP patients, found that patients who visited a chiropractor were 55 percent less likely to fill an opioid (narcotic) prescription. Another much larger study will be starting shortly and published within 18 months. 
Do you see increased chiropractic utilization helping to decrease the amount of opioid prescribing?Chiropractic Instead of Opioids: Million-Patient Study

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic

Ever have questions about the chiropractor profession? Here is an article with information about education, licensing, scope of practice, effectiveness and safety, insurance coverage, and other issues concerning the profession.
Do you have any questions concerning the chiropractic profession?

Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic

In wake of opioid crisis, Joint Commission issues new pain standards for hospitals

The Joint Commission accredits the vast majority of US hospitals. Beginning January1st they will require hospitals to provide nonpharmacological pain treatment methods, alternatives that can include physical methods such as chiropractic treatment and acupuncture, as well as relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Do you think this will be beneficial for hospital patients?

In wake of opioid crisis, Joint Commission issues new pain standards for hospitals

NIH COMMITS $7 MILLION TO PALMER CENTER FOR CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH AND PARTNERS TO STUDY CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR VETERANS WITH CHRONIC LOW-BACK PAIN

There is a pressing need to address the devastating impact of chronic low-back pain in U.S. Veterans,” The National Institutes of Health has committed $7 million for a multi-disiplinary group of researchers at the Palmer Center for Chiropractic Research to study chiropractic care both for treatment and prevention of chronic low back disorders in Veterans.
Do you think this is a good avenue for research?

NIH COMMITS $7 MILLION TO PALMER CENTER FOR CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH AND PARTNERS TO STUDY CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR VETERANS WITH CHRONIC LOW-BACK PAIN

Governor Rauner Designates October 2017 as Chiropractic Health Care Month

Governor Rauner has issued a proclamation to designate October 2017 as Chiropractic Health Care Month in Illinois. The proclamation highlights the benefits and importance of chiropractic care throughout the State. The proclamation also recognizes the dedication chiropractic physicians have for their patients. Every year approximately 30 million Americans and two million patients in Illinois visit chiropractic physicians.
Governor Rauner Designates October 2017 as Chiropractic Health Care Month

Steroid Injections May Increase Cartilage Breakdown

"Steroid (cortisone) injections for osteoarthritis is like Snapchat. Everyone seems to be doing it, and no one is quite sure why."
Most previous studies have not been of high quality and have not shown much benefit. 
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published probably the best study on this topic. It found no benefit of steriod injections over placebo of saline solution over two years. We have known that steroids are harmful to the joint cartilage and this study showed a significant loss of cartilage thickness in the steroid group.
Has anyone had benefit of a knee disorder with chiropractic or other manual treatments?

Steroid Injections May Increase Cartilage Breakdown

7 Clear Signs Your Back Pain is Actually Sciatica

Informative article on sciatica from Reader's Digest. It can cause intense pain and I have had many patients over the years with severe sciatica say they wish someone would cut their leg off! 
Unfortunately the pain medications are generally not that effective for sciatic pain because they will not unpinch a pinched nerve.
Has anyone experienced sciatica?

7 Clear Signs Your Back Pain is Actually Sciatica

RAND Report: Chiropractic Scores Big in the Military

RAND Report: Chiropractic Scores Big in the Military
The private research group RAND just completed a study of complementary health services at military bases.
More than half of bases provide chiropractic services. Chiropractic is by far the most frequently utilized service. Almost two-thirds of patients say chiropractic improves patient satisfaction and patients' quality of life.
Do you see increased availability of chiropractic care to the military as a positive change?
RAND Report: Chiropractic Scores Big in the Military

Take the Sting Out of Sciatica

I treat patients with sciatica every day at my clinic. As an avid cyclist, I thought I would post the findings of this new study from Finland which studied 35,000 people. They found a 33% decrease of hospitalization for sciatica in bikers and walkers. This contrasts with a 33% increase with obesity and a significant increase with smoking.
This was an observational study so it cannot show causation, but there are still many documented benefits of exercise on back disorders including sciatica to make it a very worthwhile habit.
Has anyone felt that exercise helped them with a back disorder including sciatica?
Take the Sting Out of Sciatica

Choosing Wisely to Avoid Wasteful and Unnessary Medical Treatments and Tests

The American Board of Internal Medicine along with Consumer Reports has created the Choosing Wisely Initiative to advance a national dialogue on avoiding wasteful or unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures. The American Chiropractic Association has joined nearly 100 health groups in supporting this initiative.
According to the Institute of Medicine, up to 30 percent of health care spending is duplicative or unnecessary. This translates to hundreds of billions of dollars wasted every year in our country.
Has anyone had unneccessary or duplicate treatment or testing?

Choosing Wisely

A comprehensive guide to the new science of treating lower back pain

Great article on the current science concerning treatment of low back disorders. Drug therapy, injections, and many spinal surgeries has been found to be much less effective than previously thought and can have very significant side effects. 
It is commonly stated that it unfortunately takes on average 15 years for new scientific methods to become part of standard medical practice, so do not expect most medical practitioners to change their practice habits any time soon. 
So it is important for you to educate yourself so you can get effective safe research based treatments for your low back and spinal disorders including sciatica and spinal stenosis.
Are you aware of the new practice guidelines?

A comprehensive guide to the new science of treating lower back pain

Ohio Work Comp Clamps Down on Spine Surgery

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation has issued a rule change regarding payment for lumbar fusion surgery, effective Jan. 1, 2018, that in most cases only authorizes surgery after the injured worker has received at least 60 days of conservative care for low back pain. 
This was done after several of their data studies found fusion patients suffered considerably worse outcomes than non-fusion patients. The conservative care can consist of chiropractic or physical therapy or other non surgical treatments.
Do you think this is a good new policy?

Ohio Work Comp Clamps Down on Spine Surgery

House Advances Pro-Chiropractic Bill to Boost Ranks of Certified Medical Examiners

The house of representatives overwhelming advances bi-partisan pro-chiropractic bill to boost ranks of certified medical examiners who examine veterans to drive trucks.
Truck drivers are required to get medical examinations by certified medical examiners to determine if there are any medical conditions that could lead to unsafe driving. I am a DOT certified medical examiner and it is good to see this service opened up to other medical providers who work at VA facilities as it will make it easier for veterans to get their driving cetification.
Do you think this is a good piece of legislation?
House Advances Pro-Chiropractic Bill to Boost Ranks of DOT Certified Medical Examiners

FDA proposes that doctors learn about acupuncture for pain management

The Food and Drug Administration released proposed changes Wednesday to its blueprint on educating health care providers about treating pain. The guidelines now recommend that doctors get information about chiropractic care and acupuncture as therapies that might help patients avoid prescription opioids.
Do you think this is a good recommendation to help patients avoid opioid (narcotic drugs)?

FDA proposes that doctors learn about chiropractic and acupuncture for pain management

The Better Way to Get Back Pain Relief

Consumer Reports survey of 3,562 back-pain sufferers found that more than 80 percent of those who had tried yoga or tai chi or had seen a massage therapist or chiropractor said it had helped them.
Growing research shows that a combination of hands-on therapies and other nondrug measures can be just as effective as more traditional forms of back care, including drugs and surgery. And they’re much safer.
In February the American College of Physicians—which represents primary care doctors, the providers people consult most often for a backache—issued new guidelines for back-pain treatment, saying that the first line of defense should be nondrug measures.
Has anyone seen this Consumer Reports article?

The Better Way to Get Back Pain Relief

For Bad Backs, It May Be Time to Rethink Biases About Chiropractors

Here is another article based on the new guidelines from the American College of Physicians ( national organization of the medical internal medicine physicians) which recommends non drug treatments such as spinal maniplution and exercise therapy as the first options for back pain. This article written by a medical physician reviews the research showing that spinal manipulation (adjustment) is an effective and safe treatment for low back pain.
Does it seem surprising that a national medical organizaiton is recommending non drug therapies as a first step of treatment?

For Bad Backs, It May Be Time to Rethink Biases About Chiropractors

Spinal Manipulation Can Ease Your Aching Back

Consumer Reports gives information on the new study from the Journal of AMA which reviewed 26 previous studies and concluded that spinal manipulation (adjustments) is beneficial for back pain. 
Also a recent Consumer Reports survey of 3500 back pain sufferers showed that over 90% of them thought that spinal manipulation was beneficial for them.
Newer research is showing that pain medications are not nearly as beneficial as previously thought for back pain and carry more significant side effects.
Does it seem reasonable to try spinal manipulation as it is safer than drugs?

Spinal Manipulation Can Ease Your Aching Back

JAMA Study Provides Further Support for Spinal Manipulation for Acute Low Back Pain

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds to a growing body of recent research supporting the use of spinal manipulative therapy (adjustment) as a first line treatment for acute low back pain, 
The review examined 26 randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and other published research since 2011 found that spinal manipulation was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain and function for up to six weeks with no serious adverse side effects.

JAMA Study Provides Further Support for Spinal Manipulation for Acute Low Back Pain

Stop Back Pain Without Drugs

A recent Consumer Reports survey shows 84% of people feel that spinal manipulation (adjustments) were beneficial. This article also explains the new back treatment Guidelines by the Am College of Physicians (national organization for the Internal Medicine Physicians). These new research based guidelines recommend NON-drug treatment such as spinal manipulation, tai chi, yoga, spine stabilizing exercises, progressive relaxation, stress reduction, and cognitive behavioral therapy as the first step for back pain.

Stop Back Pain Without Drugs

"Tech Neck": The Fix Is in the Foundation

"Tech neck" is also called "text neck". Did you know that the head weights 10-12 pounds and every 10 degrees of forward flexion puts another 10 pounds of stress on the neck? So 60 degrees of flexion increases neck stress by 60 pounds?
Here is a good article on the topic.

"Tech Neck": The Fix Is in the Foundation

The Puzzling Popularity of Back Surgery in Certain Regions

You might think that once drugs, devices and medical procedures are shown to be effective, they quickly become available. You might also think that those shown not to work as well as alternatives are immediately discarded.
Reasonable assumptions both, but you’d be wrong.
Another study has shown wide variations of up to 4 times in the rates of spinal surgery across the US. and it has not changed over time. There is no reason for this wide variation. 
 Unfortunately this shows that the decision to do spinal surgery is many times not based on science and many people are getting unnecessary spinal surgeries.

The Puzzling Popularity of Back Surgery in Certain Regions

A Public-Health Crisis That We Can Fix

Motor vehicle crashes kill as many people as breast cancer and twice as many people as murder, and injure more than 2 million people every year. I treat many patients for auto related injuries. 
After decreasing for several decades from 50,000 to the low 30,000's per year, the auto death rate has increased significantly by 14% over the last two years back up to 40,000. Most authorities agree this is due to distracted driving. 
I have posted on this topic several times over the last couple years.

A Public-Health Crisis That We Can Fix

Peter Gotzsche, founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, talks about dangers of prescription drugs

Many of our most commonly used drugs, from painkillers to antidepressants, are dangerous and are killing us off in large numbers, says a leading researcher. Peter Gotzsche, a co-founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, the world's foremost body in assessing medical evidence estimates that 100,000 people in the United States alone die each year from the side-effects of correctly used drugs.
He goes on to say "It's remarkable that nobody raises an eyebrow when we kill so many of our own citizens with drugs." Professor Gotzsche says those deaths are only the tip of the iceberg and are representative of a system of drug regulation that simply does not protect patients.
Why are we allowing 2000 per week to die from these FDA approved drugs?

Peter Gotzsche, founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, visits Australia to talk about dangers of prescription drugs

When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

For all the truly wondrous developments of modern medicine—it is distressingly ordinary for patients to get treatments that research has shown are ineffective or even dangerous compared to conservative care. There are many reasons for this and this Atlantic article explains the reasons.
Three common treatments that fall into this category are heart stents for people who are symptom free or who have stable angina ( intermittent chest pain only), many knee meniscal surgeries for people with non acute knee cartilage tears, and spinal fusion surgery for disc degeneration.
I spend much time explaining this to patients who are interested because decisions on these procedures can have a huge impact on their lives. This is a longer article, but I encourage you to take the time to read at least part of it.
Has anyone received what they now perceive as an unnecessary treatment?When Evidence Says No, but Doctors Say Yes

American College of Physicians new low back pain treatment guidelines

The new guidelines for low back pain by the American College of Physicians (national society of the internists) recommends first using non-invasive, non-drug treatments before resorting to drug therapies.
ACP’s guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, cite spinal manipulation (a centerpiece of chiropractic care), heat therapy, massage, acupuncture as possible options for non-invasive, non-drug therapies for low back pain.
Only when such treatments provide little or no relief, the guidelines state, should patients move on to medicines such as ibuprofen or muscle relaxants, which research indicates have limited pain-relief effects. 
The chiropractic profession has long advocated for doctors and patients to use a more conservative approach to treating low back pain. Do you agree on this approach?

American Chiropractic Association Applauds Low Back Pain Guidelines Advocating Non-Drug Treatments First

Ibuprofen for people with back pain has no significant effect - new study

Earlier research has shown that acetominophen (Tylenol) is not effective for back pain and opioid (narcotic) drugs are only minimally effective (with significant possible side effects). 
Now a new study from the University of Sydney and published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases which reviewed 35 previous studies on more than 6,000 showed no significant clinical benefit of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
I have said for many years that if the pain meds worked as advertised, I would have many less patients in my clinic.
Would this info change you decision to get chiropractic or physical therapy treatment if you had a back issue in the future?

Ibuprofen for people with back pain has no significant effect - new study

Older Adults with Arthritis Need Just 45 Minutes of Activity Per Week

More good news concerning exercise. Current federal exercise guidelines show that only 150 minutes of exercise per week can confer large health benefits. Unfortunately only 1 out of 10 older Americans with knee arthritis meet these guidelines.
Now a recent study from Northwestern Medical shows that only 45 minutes of exercise per week will keep an older person with knee arthritis functional, and it does not even have to be done in at least 10 minutes blocks of time.
So if you are in this category, just do a little more exercise like walking or activities that you enjoy and it significantly help with the knee arthritis.
Anyone have improvements with knee arthritis from exercise?
Older Adults with Arthritis Need Just 45 Minutes of Activity Per Week

Good to see the Congress can sometimes get together and pass beneficial legislation. Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 921, the Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act. The bill, passed unanimously by the House on Sept. 12, ensures that sports medicine professionals are properly covered by their malpractice insurance while traveling with athletic teams to another state. 
 As all professional football teams, as well as 28 of the 30 major league baseball clubs, have a doctor of chiropractic as part of their medical training staff this will also benefit my profession who works in sports medicine.
Doctors of Chiropractic Included in Sports Medicine Licensure Clarity Act

Pentagon to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing chiropractic services to military retirees.

The American Chiropractic Association recently announced that a new bill authorizes funding for a provision directing the Pentagon to conduct a study on the feasibility of providing chiropractic services to military retirees. 
Currently military personnel have no chiropractic insurance benefits. 
Do you think this should be changed?