Many people become addicted to opioids while taking them as prescribed to manage chronic pain. They also fear that if they quit taking opioids, they would have no other way to treat the pain. However, opioids are typically not the best way to treat chronic pain. Opioids are best used for short periods after a serious injury or medical procedure, or for people experiencing pain due to a terminal illness. Using opioids long term to treat chronic pain can lead to health problems, including respiratory problems, cardiovascular problems, cognitive impairment, frequent illnesses, increased sensitivity to pain, and potentially fatal overdose. Fortunately, there are ways of treating chronic pain that are both safer and more effective.
Non-addictive medications
There are several kinds of medications that can help with chronic pain. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin are surprisingly effective at treating chronic pain and they’re cheap and non-addictive. Topical ointments, both over-the-counter and prescription strength are also helpful. Perhaps less well known, tricyclic antidepressants–an older form of antidepressants that preceded SSRIs–have been shown reduce chronic pain and they can be taken in lower doses than those used to treat depression.
Physical therapy
In the face of the opioid epidemic, the CDC now recommends physical therapy and other interventions, using medications only as a last resort. Physical therapy has been shown to be effective in treating a number of conditions that commonly cause chronic pain. These include back pain, hip and knee pain, and pain caused by osteoarthritis. Physical therapy helps to strengthen the muscles and ligaments in the affected area, giving greater support and correcting imbalances. It can also improve range of motion in affected joints.
Exercise
It’s important to discuss exercise with a physical therapist or doctor to be sure you won’t aggravate an injury or condition. When you have determined what exercise is safe for you, there are a number of ways exercise can reduce chronic pain. First, it can help you maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is a major cause of joint pain, especially in the knees, back, and hips. Even for people who are only slightly overweight, losing a few pounds can relieve some stress on the joints. Exercise can also help you become desensitized to the pain. Your brain gradually learns to turn down the volume pain signals during repetitive movements like walking. Finally, exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety, which lowers your perception of pain.
Psychotherapy
If you are experiencing anxiety, stress, or depression, it’s probably making your chronic pain worse. You are essentially primed to notice negative feelings, including pain. It may sound strange, but addressing these problems with a therapist can help relieve the baseline tension that’s making your pain worse. There are also ways a therapist can help you directly lessen the pain and keep it from interfering in your life.
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