The Prescription Painkiller Epidemic
The Prescription Painkiller Epidemic
Opioid painkiller drugs mask pain. They do not cure it. Prescription drugs that numb pain in some cases may convince a patient that a musculoskeletal condition is less severe than it is, or that it has healed. This misunderstanding can lead to over-extension and a delay in the healing process, or even to permanent injury.
Prescribers of Opioid Painkillers in the United States
Chiropractic physicians are skilled in the most conservative treatment methods to alleviate pain and urge patients and other health care providers, where appropriate, to exhaust these options before resorting to riskier and more invasive treatments such as drugs and surgery.
Primary Care MDs – 28.8%
Internists – 14.6%
Orthopaedic Surgeons – 7.7%
Chiropractic Physicians – 0.0%
