Individuals suffering from chronic pain who are concerned about how they will manage their pain given how addictive pain medications are, certainly are justified. The United States is undeniably dealing with an epidemic of opioid dependence with oxycodone being the most commonly abused in the country. It is particularly concerning for individuals who have a pre-existing opioid use disorder that also must find care to manage their pain.
Alternate strategies that do not include opioid use are important to safely treat all people with pain issues. The good news is that there are many activities and therapies that can be combined to help people who are suffering without using prescriptions. Therapies including chiropractic treatment, counseling, physical activity, even customized nutrition programs can help those with pain issues.
How Do You Know If You Have Chronic Pain?
When you have experienced symptoms of persistent pain for more than twelve weeks you may be suffering from chronic pain. The difference between chronic pain and acute pain is that chronic pain is ongoing while acute pain is temporary. The effects that chronic pain has on people goes way beyond just discomfort. People who suffer from prolonged pain will often also have issues with:
- Mood irregularity
- Anxiety
- Inability to get quality sleep
- Lethargy
- Weak appetite
- Reduced resilience
- Depression
Unfortunately, no cure exists to deal with constant pain and which is why prescriptions are widely used. There is no denying the effectiveness of these prescriptions doing their job at alleviating pain symptoms. The problem lies in how highly addictive they are.
Can You Manage Pain Without Perscriptions?
There are activities and therapies you can engage in which may help manage your pain symptoms. Message therapy and chiropractic care have shown incredible promise in helping people overcome pain. Focusing on living a life that is as healthy as possible, meaning one that includes plenty of rest, good nutrition, activity, and reducing stress can have a meaningful impact on both the physical and emotional health of a person.
Mental health techniques like practicing mindfulness also play an important role in offering people complete, and well-rounded alternatives to medication. Yoga, meditation, counseling, and communing with others should be considered part of the pain management program.
What Can You Do If You Have An Opioid Addiction?
You may have started out innocently enough just taking the medications that were prescribed to you to manage your pain. Overtime you lost yourself in addiction to them. Or maybe you dabbled with prescriptions recreationally and now you can’t stop taking them. Either way, if you are abusing opioids, it is very dangerous. Your health and life are at risk so it is important to seek help immediately.
The medical detox and addiction alternative treatment center at Discovery Place in Tennessee have a successful track record of helping people addicted to alcohol and drugs get sober and stay sober. We offer many programs that support those who are struggling with addiction including our 30-day residential, long-term recovery, and continuing care programs to help you be successful. Because families are heavily affected when a loved one is an addict, we also have a supportive family matters workshop.
The professional and caring team at our Burns detox alternative treatment center is here when you are ready to get help. Call our Tennessee detox alternative treatment center anytime at 1-800-725-0922.
