The Nuance
Should You See a Chiropractor for Your Back Pain?
The science behind spinal manipulation, and why it seems to work for some people
Pain is a plague on the American populace. According to data from the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey, nearly 20% of U.S. adults experience pain most days or every day.
Back pain, neck pain, and headaches are three of the most common causes of persistent pain. And after factoring in lost productivity and work absences, these and other pain conditions cost the United States at least $560 billion annually, finds a 2012 analysis in the Journal of Pain. That’s greater than costs associated with heart disease and cancer combined.
While pain is the most common and costly medical condition in the United States, it’s also the one doctors struggle the most to treat. Prescription pain pills, including opioids, tend to provide inconsistent and often diminishing relief for people who experience chronic pain. Some of these drugs also come with significant risks for addiction, withdrawal, and other dangerous side effects. For these reasons, many national health authorities have begun to recommend non-pharmacological treatment options for common pain conditions. The American College of Physicians, one of the largest physician groups in the…
