Initial findings from the Gallup-Palmer College of Chiropractic Annual Study of Americans reveal U.S. adults' experiences with pain and their perceptions of and opinions regarding pharmaceutical vs. nondrug pain management. "Americans Prefer Drug-Free Pain Management Over Opioids," a Gallup brief based on specific findings from the 2017 survey, should come as welcome news to all AOM practitioners (and nondrug health care providers of all disciplines):
Pain is an ongoing issue for many Americans: "About one in four adults in the U.S. (27%) have seen a healthcare professional for significant neck or back pain in the last 12 months. More than half of those adults (54%) have had an ongoing problem with neck or back pain for five years or more."
Nearly eight in 10 (78 percent) of Americans "prefer to try other ways to address their physical pain before they take pain medication prescribed by a doctor."
Despite that desire, "Among those who have had ongoing neck or back pain for less than 12 months, seven in 10 have taken a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), such as Advil®, aspirin or Aleve®, to manage the pain, and 45% have taken acetaminophen, such as Tylenol®. One in four of these new neck or back pain sufferers say they took an opioid for pain management."
So, Americans are in pain, don't want to take prescription or over-the-counter pain medication for pain relief ... but frequently do it anyway. What an opportunity for the AOM profession!
Think of your most difficult patient – the one you try to motivate and work so hard with to develop a realistic treatment plan with achievable and measurable goals. Week after week, you see this patient struggle, sinking deeper into hopelessness as their health and quality of life continue to worsen. What if there was something else you could do that could change their outlook and their life? The solution is as simple as an automated program.
A herniated disc in the lumbar (lower) spine is the most common cause of chronic sciatica, a condition in which back pain extends down the leg. The affected nerve is the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the back of the legs and is the largest nerve in the human body. New research suggests acupuncture may be a great option for these patients.
As a practitioner, if you're wondering why your social media efforts aren't working the way you had hoped, or if you're not using social media at all, use this article to get your social media marketing strategies (back) on track.
