Why Chiropractic School is Worth It: Helping Those with Chronic Pain

UPDATED MAY 8, 2020

Imagine if you were unable to do many of the physical activities you can do right now. Things like dancing at a family wedding, picking up a bag of groceries, even something as simple as getting out of bed in the morning. These may seem like basic tasks, but they are nearly impossible for millions of Americans who suffer from chronic pain. In chiropractic school, you learn to help those with musculoskeletal-related pain and disorders.

Chiropractic: Healing with a Human Touch

The medical community used to fight chronic pain exclusively with prescription painkillers. However, times are changing and due, in part, to the opioid crisis that has gripped the nation, drug-free options for persistent pain have become more accepted.

At the forefront of those options is chiropractic care, which consistently delivers positive results for those in pain. With a population in need, many people considering a career in health care are no longing asking why chiropractic school is worth it, and instead are asking, “Just how long does it take to become a chiropractor?”

Recovering from a Painful Situation

According to the National Institutes of Health, the number of Americans living with chronic pain is on the rise, and the numbers are staggering.

• Roughly 25.3 million adults experience chronic pain.
• Nearly 40 million adults experience severe levels of pain
• Chronic pain is the number-one cause of long-term disability in America.
• Back and neck pain accounts for 264 million lost workdays per year.

Whether it’s caused by work, play, or accidents, what cannot be ignored is that the United States is fighting an ongoing battle with persistent pain. Research has shown that the use of pharmaceuticals only is not the answer.

James Dillard, M.D., D.C., co-author of The Chronic Pain Solution, says the old approach can only deliver partial success.

“Even if we prescribe medication as well as we can, on average we are still only going to take away between 50-60% of your pain,” Dillard said.

Chiropractic as a Solution

The diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system by chiropractors have been praised for their success. Known to be extremely effective in the reduction of pain, chiropractic is a popular profession for a variety of reasons. And after you know how long it takes to become a chiropractor, just 3.3 years, you could earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and begin relieving pain for sufferers.

According to Chiropractic: A Safe and Cost Effective Approach to Health, “chiropractors provide valuable care to more than 35 million American adults to “promote health, alleviate pain and improve quality of life.” That’s just one reason why chiropractic school is worth it. The primary concerns that prompt a visit to a D.C. include:

• Back pain – 60%
• Neck, shoulder, extremities, and arthritis – 20%
• Headaches, including migraine – 10%
• Various other conditions – 10%.

A Drug-free Approach

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says the neuromusculoskeletal conditions listed above affect more than 44 million Americans and cost society more than $267 billion each year. The confidence in the chiropractic profession can be seen in patient satisfaction results.

A 2016 Gallup-Palmer survey found the following:

• 95% of recent chiropractic users rated it as effective
• 97% of past-year chiropractic users would likely to see a chiropractor for back or neck pain
• 89% recommended chiropractic to family and friends.

The Doctor of Chiropractic

With numbers so favorable, it’s easy to understand why you would want to make chiropractic your chosen profession. Knowing that 3.3 years is how long it takes to become a chiropractor is important, but you should also know that it will give you a long career. Many chiropractors enjoy a strong bond with their patients, building a close relationship by providing treatment to multiple generations of the same family.

Those patient relationships only gain strength over time as you experience an abundance of gratitude for your treatment efforts. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that each day you can improve lives by relieving the pain of others through:

• Proper spinal alignment and extremity joint function
• Dietary changes
• Nutrition and lifestyle modifications
• Rehabilitative exercises

And that, more than anything, is why chiropractic school is worth it!

Earn Your D.C. Degree from CUKC

Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a private, nonprofit, healthcare-focused university in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of nearly 190,000 people within the Kansas City metropolitan area. The University’s College of Chiropractic has been a national leader since 1922 and has more than 11,00 alumni. CUKC is also the first U.S. chiropractic college to have two Force Sensing Tables in the adjusting laboratory on campus, which is helping students to gain chiropractic adjustment skills and confidence.

Our team of admissions advisors can help answer your questions about becoming a chiropractor and get you on the path toward becoming the difference in health care. Click here to connect with an advisor.

Eager to know more? Get answers to the question “why become a chiropractor” by requesting a free copy of the eBook, Your Complete Guide to the Chiropractic Profession today!