Opioids are strong medications that are prescribed for pain. You might recognize some of the names of these drugs; morphine, Oxycodone, Percoset, Vicodin to name a few. Medical professionals are using these drugs as a way to ease patient’s pain, however, at the same time the risk of addiction is apparent and in the end they do nothing to actually FIX the patients pain.
Between 1999 and 2010, there was a 400% increase in opioid sales with no change in reported pain levels. Since 2004, deaths due to opioids increased 2900% in New York alone!
Amongst a growing alternative movement, the Center for Holistic Medicine and its physicians are taking a stand against the commonly referred to prescription pad to solve patients pain. Instead, with the help of our highly skilled physicians we know that there is another way.
Dr. Cheryl Schwartz, DO, PhD, as an osteopathic Internal Medicine doctor, provides non-addictive pain management to her patients at the Center. In this way, DOs (and some specially-trained MDs) can help people with pain and potentially reduce or avoid the need for strong pain medications such as opioids.
It is important for our patients to know that despite Osteopathic doctors efforts and proven success, they are being challenged on a professional and political level. <1>, Medicare is currently proposing changes in the way they pay for OMT. (For the story see: <http://cranialacademy.org/physicians/medicare-comments/>)
To make an appointment with Dr Schwartz for a pain management evaluation without the risk of opioids, please call the Center.
Related links:
- http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2498824
