5/24/2012 10:02:00 AM
It's estimated that 75 percent of People suffer with neck pain at some point in their lives. Neck pain accounts for millions of trips to the doctor every year. The pain can be acute and severe enough to interfere with our everyday lives, but modern medicine offers little help. At best, you get over-the-counter pain relievers or narcotic drugs, all of which come with dangerous side effects and are often not effective enough to get rid of pain.
A new study published on January 3, 2012 in The Annals of Internal Medicine demonstrates the power of alternative therapies for treating neck pain. Participants in the study were divided into three groups:
- Group one made regular visits to the chiropractor
- Group received traditional drug therapy
- The third group was instructed on how to perform therapeutic exercises at home to combat their neck pain.
After the 12 weeks study was completed, it was clear participants who followed the non-drug therapy fared better than those who received painkillers. In the chiropractic group, 57 percent of individuals reported at least a 75 percent reduction in pain. In the home exercise group, 48 percent reported similar pain relief. However, only 33 percent of the painkiller group saw such results.
The long term benefits are equally remarkable. Even one year later, patients in the chiropractic and home exercise groups were still experiencing benefits. About 53 percent in each of these groups still saw at least a 75 percent reduction in pain. In the painkiller group, only 38 percent reported this kind of pain relief.
Besides being less effective, the painkiller group was also increasing their medication over time, which can lead to more serious side effects.
The people in the medication group also reported an increase in medication use throughout the follow-up period, up to a year later.
Dr. Gert Bronfort (the researcher) stated: "If you're taking medication over a long time, then we're running into more systemic side effects like gastrointestinal problems."
It's clear that pharmaceutical drugs are not only dangerous, but unsuccessful compared to natural alternatives for dealing with neck pain.
So give this to all your friends who pop pills @ the drop of a heart beat!!! Carry on seeing your Chiropractor and feel the rewards!!!!!
Dr. Darryn whelan
