Starting this month, January 2015, The Joint Commission is now recommending that doctors and administrators refer pain patients to chiropractors and other non-pharmacological therapists.

In the past, when hospitals received a patient who was complaining of pain, the only approved mode of treatment that they did, according to guidelines, was to give drug-therapy.

However, with our growing awareness of the dangers and abuses of opioid drugs for pain, the Joint Commission revised their recommendations for pain.

If you go to an urgent care center or a hospital with pain now, they have two paths they can take. the first path is the same one that has always been there: They give drugs. The second path is the new one: They recommend chiropractic or acupuncture for pain.

This is important because the research showing that chiropractic is effective for acute and chronic back pain is now catching up to hospital recommendations. This allows high-risk patients to have an alternative to drugs for their pain. This gives more options for patients and doctors alike.

Chiropractic is a profession, not a therapy. But a big part of our tool box is to use spinal manipulation to restore function. When your spine moves better, it feels better.

Todd Lloyd, DC

Annual Report Joint Commission (pdf)
Chiropractors as physicians
From the ACA

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Ryan Todd Lloyd, DC

I'm a chiropractor who specializes in correcting and relieving back and neck disorders. I have found that when you increase the mobility of your spine and joints with chiropractic care and follow up with this with improving muscle coordination with targeted exercises,then improving your function will also improve your pain.

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