No one should have to suffer from pain unnecessarily, especially after an injury or surgery. Short-term pain can be managed effectively with strong narcotic pain relievers. However, when pain becomes chronic, and gets worse over time, a different approach is needed to ensure that it does not lead to addiction. In the United States, over 2.5 million American adults are addicted to opioids and heroin, which, in some cases, can be linked to over-prescribing by physicians as a way to address chronic pain. So, what are the alternative options for dealing with chronic pain?
The psychology of chronic pain
Chronic pain has a unique psychology to it which can lead to addiction. The American Society of Addiction Medicine explains, “Addiction is a primary, chronic and relapsing brain disease characterized by an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.” Doctors need to move away from just prescribing pills and look for alternative methods of dealing with chronic pain.
A different approach to treating ongoing pain
- Exercise: Keep the parts of your body that are not in pain active. This will increase natural endorphins and help keep you both physically and mentally strong.
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Seek emotional support: Talk to a personal coach, counselor, or emotional therapist even if you believe you are emotionally strong. Chronic pain can wear anyone down over time.
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Engage spiritually: Pray to your higher source or spirit guides, and focus your mind on what you desire to achieve.
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Eat well: Optimize your diet by consuming nutrient-rich foods and avoid sweets and comfort foods that you know are not healthy for you.
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Acupuncture: Try it if your pain is localized.
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Non-narcotic pain relievers: Experiment with nerve modulators (such as Gabapentin or Lyrica) and topical compounded cream combinations prior to using narcotics.
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Ultram (tramadol): This drug has far less addictive potential and is used for moderate pain. Note that it can add to the serotonin effect of antidepressants, as it’s a weak serotonin enhancer.
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Take breaks: If using narcotics, take a two-day drug holiday every 3 to 5 days. Alternate with non-narcotic options, such as capsaicin or arnica, and maintain physical activity.
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Avoid concurrent narcotics: Do not use narcotics at the same time as benzodiazepines, like Valium, Ativan, Klonipin, or Xanax.
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Prolotherapy or prolozone: These options can help with joint pain.
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Cold lasers or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) units: These are alternative treatments that you can easily buy online.
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Surgically implanted nerve modulators: Speak with a surgeon about this option.
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Marijuana: For medicinal purposes only, marijuana can actually be a great alternative without the side-effects or addiction we see with narcotics.
The keys to effectively managing chronic pain are to evaluate every possible contributor to the pain, including the physical, mental, and emotional factors, and utilize techniques that focus on healing all aspects of the pain itself.
