In honor of National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM), the American Chiropractic Association has published some great materials on why you should choose conservative care first (see below). Conservative care options include chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, and much more, and the purpose is to exhaust these non-invasive options and hopefully avoid drugs and surgery.
Chiropractic medicine and acupuncture used to be called alternative medicine, but that mindset is quickly evolving as more and more evidence piles up substantiating the powerful contributions these fields are making towards pain management, recovery after injuries, and improved health and wellness. Chiropractic medicine is not so much an alternative option, but has been proven to be the appropriate first option for numerous conditions.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published an article in 2013 suggesting chiropractic for low-back pain, and mentioned surgery as appropriate only if all other options fail. Prescription pain drug abuse is now classified as an epidemic in the US, and the number of spinal fusions has soared 500 perfect over the last decade! Sometimes medicines and surgery are necessary and appropriate, but it is almost always more appropriate to choose conservative care first.
Absolute Wellness Center in Eugene, OR offers multiple options for those interested in conservative care. Dr. Michael Herb offers chiropractic medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Kalli Phillips offers naturopathic medicine and primary care. We have a rehabilitation facility on site for our physical rehabilitation team, and we offer acupuncture, massage, and more. If you are interested in learning more about conservative care in Eugene, OR and whether it might help you manage pain, improve how you feel and perform each day, or recover from an injury (whether it be related to sports, your work, or an auto accident), please give us a call at 541-484-5777.
Additional Resources from the American Chiropractic Association (including the sources of the above-mentioned facts and statistics):