Opioids have been at the forefront of pain management for many years. However, considering their considerable potential for addiction, there is controversy regarding the long-term efficacy of opioids. Choosing the optimal course of treatment for pain requires an understanding of how opioids function, the risks associated with them, and the available alternatives. That’s where this guide comes in. Addiction treatment experts from Skyward Treatment Center have comprehensively analyzed the connection between opioid addiction and chronic pain, additional risk factors for opioid addiction, alternatives to opioids for chronic pain management, as well as opioid addiction treatment options in Houston, TX.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids, also referred to as narcotics, are a class of drugs consisting of natural or synthetic substances that interact with nerve cells in a way that may lessen pain. Medical professionals usually prescribe opioids to treat moderate to severe pain. Opioids can, however, become addictive since they provide a euphoric high in addition to dulling pain. This can result in opioid use disorder along with the building of tolerance, which is the need to take higher doses to achieve the same effects. As a result, in an effort to avoid addiction, healthcare professionals have started adjusting their prescribing practices to reduce the length and potency of opioids.
Chronic Pain
All of us have experienced pain in one way or the other. We all have either been burned, cut or even had a toe or ankle fracture. This acute pain mainly comes almost instantly and normally goes away in a few days or weeks. On the other hand, chronic pain can affect any part of the body. It can linger for months or even years and affects many facets of a person’s life, including movement, eating, sleep, relationships, energy levels, etc. As per the CDC, close to 50 million Americans experience chronic pain. That represents over 20 percent of the populace.
Chronic pain can be brought on by a variety of conditions, including endometriosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, traumatic injuries, and pain following surgery. Chronic pain can also result from aging and related conditions like arthritis, dementia, and joint discomfort.
Types of Chronic Pains That Opioids are Approved to Handle
Prescription opioids are authorized for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. This may encompass:
- Post-surgery pain.
- Certain forms of acute pain.
- Vascular pain such as acute sickle cell disease.
- Cancer pain.
Other opioids have also been licensed for use in treating severe coughing and persistent diarrhea by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For instance, the opioid loperamide is utilized by healthcare professionals to treat diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Conversely, the opioids codeine and dextromethorphan are utilized in suppressing coughing.
Opioid Addiction and Chronic Pain: How Are They Linked?
Opioid addiction and chronic pain typically make it harder for patients to stop using opioids than people without chronic pain. According to a recent study, this may be connected to a process known as central sensitization. Central sensitization refers to abnormal pain processing in the brain and spinal cord that causes people to experience more severe pain for extended periods of time. Patients higher in central sensitization were more likely to indicate pain as a major reason for why their opioid addiction first took place, as well as for hesitating to seek addiction treatment and continuing and increasing their usage of opioids. When deciding whether opioids are the best course of treatment for someone with chronic pain, it is critical to comprehend the interactions between opioids and chronic pain.
Additional Risk Factors for Opioid Addiction
Although research is showing a connection between opioid addiction and chronic pain, there are other risk factors that people who are thinking about using opioids should be aware of. These consist of factors such as:
- Personal or family history of opioid or other drug addictions.
- Heavy use of other substances.
- A propensity for risk-taking behaviors.
- History of depression, anxiety, or other mental health disorders.
- High levels of stress.
It is critical to have an open discussion about your lifestyle and medical history with a medical practitioner in order to determine whether you may have underlying risk factors for opioid addiction.
Alternatives For Chronic Pain Management Other Than Opioids
- Physical therapy. The exercises performed in physical therapy can assist in managing chronic pain without the need for painkillers.
- This age-old method can help relieve pain as an alternative to opioid prescriptions.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT assists patients in pain management by altering their pain perception and coping mechanisms.
- Non-opioid medications. Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and antidepressants can be useful for pain management.
- Mindfulness and meditation. These practices can enhance general well-being and reduce pain perception.
- Nerve blocks. These injections can provide targeted pain relief without the risk of opioid addiction.
- Exercise programs. Regular physical activity tailored to the individual’s condition can alleviate pain and improve function.
- Dietary changes. Anti-inflammatory diets can help reduce pain and reliance on opioids.
- Chiropractic care. Spinal adjustments and other chiropractic treatments can address pain at its source without opioids.
Take Control of Your Life: Seek Opioid Addiction Treatment at Skyward Treatment Center Today!
Our opioid addiction treatment center in Houston, TX, will make sure you are as comfortable as possible throughout this procedure. Remaining sober can be difficult if withdrawal symptoms are excruciating or uncomfortable. However, we provide the medical care and psychological support you need to lay a solid foundation for your recovery. We are ideally positioned to support patients at every stage since we offer several tiers of treatment. Our team and your fellow recovering patients will be there to support you as you start to rebuild your life. So, do you feel that you may have contracted an opioid addiction as a result of your chronic pain management prescriptions? All is not lost! Contact Skyward Treatment Center today and learn more about how our opioid addiction treatment program can help you get back on track!
