Do over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) work as well as Chiropractic adjustments? As a practitioner at Creekside Chiropractic in Sheboygan, obviously I am going to say no. There are a few things the adjustment does that you cannot get from a chemical cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor medication. Adjustments help mobilize joints to improve range of motion in addition to reducing pain, but one other very big thing to consider, especially with long-term use are the side effects. While they are hard to validate, most Chiropractic side effects are positive. Some lucky people even report better digestion, breathing, concentration, energy, mood, etc. On the other hand, there is mounting evidence that the consequences of using NSAIDs on a regular basis are pretty undesirable. Over the next few weeks, we plan on looking at some of the literature behind a number of these problems, including delayed wound healing, cardiovascular risk factors, digestive tract damage, and even erectile dysfunction…really, ED? Yup. And since that probably got your attention even faster than the far more serious things like heart attacks and ulcers, here it is.
A cohort study that evaluated the records of nearly 81,000 men compared chronic and regular NSAID use with moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. It found that regardless of age group and other ED risk factors like cardiovascular health and BMI, there was a statistically significant increase in ED reported among the NSAID users.
Gleason, J. et al. Regular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use and erectile dysfunction. Journal of Urology 2011; 185: 1388-1393.
-Dr. Russell Petersen, DC. Creekside Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, 4027 S. Business Drive, Sheboygan, Wisconsin.