America is a nation in pain. According to a recent survey lamented on by The American Academy of Pain Medicine, over 100 million people live in a state of chronic pain while millions more have pain that comes and goes throughout the year.
To address this pain, many have turned to drugs. The issue with that solution though is that pharmaceuticals tend to come with dangerous side-effects and run the risk of fatal dependency.
Because of that, as a more holistic solution to pain, many are now going to the chiropractor.
Chiropractors are medical professionals who specialize in musculoskeletal disorders.
Medical journals and health websites have no shortage of opinions on whether or not chiropractors can bring about lasting pain relief. To help distill all of those perspectives for you, this article will break down the core chiropractor pros and cons.
The Pros of Seeing a Chiropractor
We will open up our chiropractor pros and cons list by examining the advantages you may experience by trying a chiropractor for pain relief.
Chiropractors Provide an Alternative Solution to Western Medicine
Chiropractors provide an alternative solution to western medicine-based pain relief.
Do you feel that the pills you’re taking for chronic pain are exacerbating your existing issues? Maybe they’re causing problems that are worst than your original pain? If so, chiropractic medicine is definitely worth trying.
With a chiropractor, you’ll explore holistic, non-drug solutions to your biggest physical problems. This practice will give you a unique perspective as to what your issues are and a new approach to managing those problems.
Chiropractors Work For Many
Perhaps the biggest advantage of seeing a chiropractor is that for many, regular visits reliably relive their pain. Chiropractors like this company collectively treat millions of Americans on an annual basis.
Of those treated, a significant amount are repeat patients. These patients come back because they feel their treatments have either a fully or partially dissipated their pain.
Chiropractic care is particularly effective in those experiencing lower back pain. It can also help with irregular soreness or hypertension in one’s back.
Chiropractors are Relatively Affordable
Depending on your insurance, costs to visit a traditional doctor can be excessive or downright unaffordable. With chiropractors, treatment plans are usually short and spread out over the course of a year.
The cost per treatment is much lower than what you’d pay uninsured at a regular medical office.
There also tends to be opportunities to save additional costs at chiropractic clinics. You may be able to do this by referring other patients or buying treatments in bulk.
Chiropractic Care Can Be Therapeutic
Much like getting a regular massage, well-trained chiropractors are excellent at providing patients with both results and a relaxing experience during sessions. For that reason, a lot of people look forward to going in to see a chiropractor not only for relief but as a monthly or bi-monthly treat.
To that end, chiropractic treatment has been cited by medical professionals as capable of reducing stress.
The Cons of Seeing a Chiropractor
To close out our chiropractor pros and cons list, we will now examine common criticisms the practice receives. These come from both patients and medical professionals.
Chiropractic Treatment Is Not Always Covered with Insurance
If you have health insurance, you may find that it’s actually cheaper to see your primary care physician than it would be to see a chiropractor. That’s because, with many policies, chiropractic care is not covered.
Without coverage, you can expect to sometimes spend over one hundred dollars for a single session. Payment will be due out of pocket upon your arrival.
There Is a Lack of Research Surrounding Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatment is relatively new when compared to other fields of medicine. Given that infancy, there aren’t many studies proving its long-term benefits or long-term drawbacks.
That puts more risk on you as a patient since you’re subjecting your body to a practice that isn’t fully understood.
Chiropractic Treatments Can Leave You Feeling Worst
As with all medicine, no treatment is going to please 100% of patients. That’s certainly true of chiropractic treatments.
Many patients find that their back is worst for weeks after seeing a chiropractor. Some even attribute chronic injuries to their visits. Certain studies concur with those patient statements and claim that seeing a chiropractor can do more harm for you than good.
At the end of the day, again, chiropractors provide a relatively new medical service. It’s up to you if you’re willing to trust your body to an alternative medical solution that is still experimental.
Wrapping Up Chiropractor Pros and Cons
There is no shortage of Chiropractor pros and cons you can find in medical journals and online. Because of the staggering amount of options out there that are either in favor of or against chiropractic care, it can be difficult to deduce whether or not the treatment is right for you.
Our advice is to talk to your primary care physician (if possible) and ask if they think a chiropractor may be able to help with your condition. If they think it could, ask if they have any recommendations as to whom you should visit.
You can also take your search for a quality chiropractor further by leveraging reviews sites. Popular ones include Yelp and Google.
At the end of the day, only you can decide if a chiropractor is a good treatment option for your condition. The best way to find out is to just try it.
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