Muscle Relaxants vs. Manipulations for LBP

 Newer better studies show that relaxant drugs have no good evidence of effectiveness for low back pain, while having possible significant

adverse effects especially for people operating machinery. Multiple clinical trials have found that skeletal muscle relaxants are associated with 50 percent more total adverse events and 104 percent more central nervous system adverse events than placebo.

A recent randomized controlled trial showed that spinal manipulation as commonly practiced by doctors of chiropractic had significantly more effect on pain reduction that muscle relaxants or placebo.

Muscle Relaxants vs. Manipulations for LBP

The Nordic Maintenance Care program

These results from the recently published Nordic Maintenance Care study showed that patients that received regular chiropractic maintenance care had less days with bothersome low back pain over 52 weeks pain than patients who were just treated when they had pain episodes.
The Nordic Maintenance Care program

Chiropractic Care Significantly Reduces Risk of Opioid Prescribing

Study from the March issue of Pain Medicine Journal using claim data from three states found that patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor had half the risk of filling an opioid prescription.
Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain

U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that spinal/ osteopathic manipulation was the was the most common recommended complementary health approach by family and other primary physicians.
Would you be surprised to know that I have received patient referrals from well over 100 medical physicians of many specialities?
U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

The Veteran's Administration has operated a chiropractic residency program at five VA hospitals since 2016. They are now expanding the program to five more hospitals. This will give these DC's skills to practice in hospital and other medical settings.
Do you see benefit in chiropractors treating patients in the hospital?
https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php…Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

This is another in what is now a long list of studies showing cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. It looked at the Missouri Medicaid system and estimated adding chiropractic care would annually save the state between $14 and $49 million dollars by providing better outcomes for reduced costs, decrease utilization of surgery, and reduced use and abuse of opioids.
Why do you think some states including Illinois do not cover chiropractic care in their Medicaid programs?
Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

Back pain one of leading causes of disability

It is easy for some who have never had a severe or chronic back disorder to think it is not a serious problem, maybe because back disorders do not kill anyone...well at least not directly. The reality is that low back and neck disorders are the 2nd most common cause of disability in the developed countries after ischemic heart disease, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in the Lancet.
Does this surprise anyone?How Back Pain Took Over the WorldB

For chiropractor George Billauer, the soccer stars have aligned

Story about Dr. George Billauer who has been the team chiropractor for the US soccer team for 27 years and has also worked with professional baseball and hockey teams and professional boxers.
Do you see chiropractic care as beneficial for sports teams?
For chiropractor George Billauer, the soccer stars have aligned

Spinal stenosis is narrowing inside the spine and is a common reason for spinal surgery. Spinal fusion surgery is increasingly be added to the standard decompression surgery, but does not have any evidence of adding benefit to the procedure. At the same time adding the fusion increases the cost, increased recovery time, and increases the rate of infections and complications.
Does this practice sound rational to you?
Benefit of lumbar fusion for spinal stenosis found to be small to nonexistent

Senate Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, National Guard

Senate Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, National Guard

3 Times a Chiropractor Can Make You Feel Better—and 9 Things They Cannot Help

Article from Men's Health on chiropractic treatment helping many back conditions, sports injuries, and migraines. No compelling evidence that it helps with non-musculoskeletal conditions. 
Would you agree?
3 Times a Chiropractor Can Make You Feel Better—and 9 Things He Should Never Even Attempt

A New Prescription for Back Pain

Chiropractic is a profession, not a treatment. Although it is most known for spinal manipulation (adjustments), most doctors of chiropractic (DC's) use a variety of treatments including soft tissue manipulation, mobilization, exercise therapy, and sometimes multidisiplinary rehabiliation.

A New Prescription for Back Pain

Do Epidural Steroid Injections Help Lower Back Pain?

This is a recent review study from the Annals of Internal Medicine of 30 previous epidural steroid injection studies. It showed only mild temporay benefit overall and no benefit for spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spine).“ESIs are high cost, low value health care,” said Terri Lewis, Ph.D, who is an expert of rehabilitation medicine.
Do you think it would be rational to use more conservative treatments for these patients such as chiropractic and/or physical therapy?

http://nationalpainreport.com/do-epidural-steroid-injections-help-lower-back-pain-8827256.html

Alternative treatments for chronic pain without opioids

Missouri Governor Mike Parson recently signed a bill allowing chiropractic care to be covered under Medicaid. Research shows that the Medicaid population is prescribed opioids at a disproportionately high rate compared to the general population and those areas where patients have access to chiropractic have decreased opioid prescription rates.
Do you think it would be beneficial for Illiinois to again cover chiropractic care under Medicaid?Alternative treatments for chronic pain without opioids

http://www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/741011-how-to-get-relief-from-sciatic-pain-in-pregnancy-without-using-medications/

Yes, chiropractors and physical therapists treat pregnant woman...for sciatica and many other lumbar and spine disorders. Chiropractic care is especially valuable in this setting as the desire to limit the mother and child from x-ray radiation exposure, drugs, injections, and other dangerous treatment options is shared by all providers.
Many women who are referred to me by obstreticians are surprised that chiropractors treat pregnant woman. 
Have you heard of this?
http://www.momtastic.com/pregnancy/741011-how-to-get-relief-from-sciatic-pain-in-pregnancy-without-using-medications/

Lower Back Pain Relief: Treatments That Really Work

A new article in Readers Digest entitled "Lower Back 
Relief Treatments That Really Work" recommends chiropractic care, physical therapy and several other conservative professions and treatments.
Do you think these are good recommendations?
Lower Back Pain Relief: Treatments That Really Work

What Does Research Reveal About Chiropractic Costs?

To date approximately 30 studies have looked at the cost of including chiropractic care and/or spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) within workers’ compensation, other healthcare delivery systems or multi-disciplinary clinics. The available evidence consistently shows that patients with low back and neck pain who are treated by chiropractors have either similar or lower costs than those seeking care from other providers.
Does this surprise anyone?
What Does Research Reveal About Chiropractic Costs?

CHIROPRACTIC CARE & THE OLYMPICS: HOW DCS HELP OLYMPIC ATHLETES REACH PEAK PERFORMANCE

Doctors of chiropractic have been working on US Olympic teams since 1980.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE & THE OLYMPICS: HOW DCS HELP OLYMPIC ATHLETES REACH PEAK PERFORMANCE

House Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, Families

A bill introduced last week in the House of Representatives and would expand access to chiropractic services to military retirees, dependents and survivors through the Department of Defense TRICARE health program.
It would also establish, in the wake of the nationwide opioid crisis, an important non-drug option for pain management in the program.
Do you think this would be beneficial for the military and their families?
House Introduces Bill to Expand Chiropractic Access to Military Retirees, Families

doctors of chiropractic provide qualified, effective care to some 35.5 million American adults,

As primary care professionals for spinal health and well-being, doctors of chiropractic provide qualified, effective care to some 35.5 million American adults, who seek chiropractic care each year to promote health, alleviate pain and improve quality of life.