More than 50 million people in America are currently dealing with chronic pain according to recent reports from the medical sector. Living with intense, unending pain is exhausting. It detracts from your quality of life and makes enjoying many of your favorite activities impossible. Some days, all you want to do is sleep so you don’t know the pain is there. Of course, you can’t fall asleep because of the pain, so it’s a fruitless endeavor.
Doctors often prescribe opioid painkillers for chronic pain. They can provide relief where over-the-counter medications have little effect. Unfortunately, they can also be addictive. Opioid abuse and addiction affect more than 2 million Americans right now, and many more are likely suffering in silence. If you want to overcome opioid addiction without giving up pain relief, several options are available.
Overcoming Opioid Addiction and Chronic Pain
Rehab is an important first step. Learn more about inpatient and outpatient rehab similarities and differences, and determine which one best meets your needs. From there, consider the following five ways to manage pain that don’t involve opioids.
1) Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a widely used way to treat chronic pain. Physical therapists create exercise programs that are tailored to their patient’s unique needs. They can target the sources of your pain and use specific exercises to reduce it. They can help improve your flexibility, mobility, and strength as well. In addition to targeted exercises, physical therapists may use whirlpool therapy, massage, and other techniques to help manage chronic pain.
2) Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a time-tested practice that originated in ancient China. It has been used for thousands of years to treat a variety of conditions, including chronic pain. It involves inserting needles in specific areas of the body to stimulate natural healing processes. Many people have found relief from their pain through acupuncture sessions. Like physical therapy, it’s a non-invasive, drug-free alternative to opioid painkillers.
3) Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are another option for managing chronic pain. This process entails injecting numbing medications to prevent nerves from transmitting pain signals. Doctors use imaging equipment to pinpoint the sources of pain and determine exactly where to inject the medication. You may need a series of treatments to experience adequate relief from the pain. Additionally, it’s not a permanent solution; you’ll need repeated treatments for long-term relief.
4) TENS
TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, can alleviate certain types of pain. This solution involves sending low-voltage electrical signals to the source of the pain. Pads will be attached to your skin, and a device connected to them will transmit electrical signals through the skin to the site of the pain. Experts believe this treatment either disrupts pain signals or boosts the production of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
5) Radiofrequency Ablation
Radiofrequency ablation is another option for treating chronic pain. In this type of treatment, doctors insert a needle near the nerve that’s responsible for your pain. Radio waves create an electrical current that runs through the needle to the nerve. It essentially kills the neural fibers that transmit pain signals to the brain. This procedure can provide pain relief for up to a year before needing another treatment.
Effective Non-Opioid Pain Relief
Opioid painkillers can provide relief from chronic pain, but they may also have dangerous side effects. Dependence is one of the most significant. Rehab programs can help you overcome opioid addiction, but you don’t have to sacrifice pain relief in the process. Several options are available to help you manage chronic pain without opioids. Not all of them are right for everyone, but chances are one of them will work for you.
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