By Dr. Vince Sferra, DC DIBCN CCN
Before starting with medications for your pain, consider safer non-opioid options to help you move past the pain, and enjoy living pain-free. Over the years there has been an increase in drug addiction and deaths prompted by the abuse of opioids for pain management. The increase in prescribed opioids is not only increasing the risk of addiction but also depression, fatal overdoses, and symptoms of withdrawal. People addicted to prescription opioids are also 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin!
In some cases, prescription medications are an appropriate part of treatment. Alleviating pain with medication in the early stages can reduce inflammation and swelling to help you move past the pain and start your rehabilitation, but be reassured that we will not put our patient’s health at risk for them to live pain-free!
Since 1998, Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation (NMR) has taken a holistic approach to healthcare with our primary focus on physical rehabilitation, clinical nutrition, and services to help with stress reduction. These core services address the ‘Triad of Health’ pillars which can most easily be referred to as ‘you are what you EAT, THINKand DO.” By combining these core services at NMR, we can address a myriad of health problems at their source.
Pain relief is clearly important; however, the goal at NMR is never merely pain relief. We strive to be very specific in diagnosing the source of the problem and will manage pain with various focused interventions and therapies without dependence on narcotics whenever possible. By addressing the causative factors that can be rehabilitated, we have a much greater ability to keep people from ever getting started with opioids for pain management.
For some patients, therapeutic approaches such as Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture alone may not be enough to reduce their pain, resulting in a very limited ability to rehabilitate to full movement, strength, and function, which are the ultimate goals. This can be when minimally invasive medical procedures can be of great value not only for a person’s pain but for their ability to then rehabilitate effectively, without the risks associated with the use of drugs for pain. NMR has an affiliation with Premiere Spine and Pain Management just for these types of services when needed.
With pain being managed successfully, our integrated team of health care practitioners including Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Acupuncturists along with Biofeedback, Myofascial and Craniosacral specialists will create care plans that are designed to rehabilitate the area in order to accelerate healing, establish stability and strength, improve mobility, and teach skills needed to prevent recurrence. Various modalities including extracorporeal shock wave (EPAT), low-level laser, ultrasound, biphasic electro-muscle stim, dry needling, and cupping among others, are all tools that can be used by our clinicians in a person’s pain management.
Before you go down the slippery slope of taking opioids, consider how we can help you move past the pain, and enjoy living pain-free, without the dependence of narcotics,with natural approaches available at Natural Medicine& Rehabilitation in Somerset, NJ.
Dr. Sferra is board-certified in Chiropractic Medicine and Chiropractic Neurology, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association. He is the founder and Clinic Director of Natural Medicine & Rehabilitation. For more information visit www.NMRNJ.com or call 908-252-0242
