Painkillers like Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin, have been prescribed by primary physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other healthcare providers to patients suffering from varying levels of pain. Though these medications have proven to be an effective source of pain relief, they have also proven to be highly addictive. In fact, it has even been reported that there are more cases of a drug overdose and deaths from prescription painkillers than heroin or cocaine.
While there are a number of factors that play into this opioid epidemic, educating doctors and patients on alternative solutions to managing chronic pain is a great place to start combatting this nationwide crisis.
Physical Therapy
For patients struggling with chronic back pain, recent injuries, or disabilities, seeking physical therapy is an ideal solution for treating chronic pain. Physical therapy is designed to help heal your injury or disability, ease the pain and discomfort, while also teaching you how to restore your function and movement. A physical therapist will utilize both active and passive strategies to help you overcome pain. This can include using an ice pack, nerve stimulation, stretches, and aerobic exercises.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Temperature therapy is another solution to treating chronic pain. The heat helps to relax tight muscles and relieve stiff joints while the cold helps to reduce inflammation and numb sharp pains. A patient suffering from chronic illness can try this at home using ice packs and heating pads. Place a heating pad on the affected area for about 15 minutes. Then place the ice pack in the same area for another 15 minutes for all-over relief.
CBD Oil
CBD is a chemical compound obtained from the hemp plant. Though the studies on it are still generally new, it has been determined that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties. As inflammation is one of the main culprits of pain, taking an anti-inflammatory such as CBD can provide lasting relief. You can find CBD online or in stores to take orally or topically for regular pain relief.
Meditation
The mind-body connection is more powerful than most people realize. As high feelings of stress and anxiety can cause the body to go into the fight or flight mode (which enhances pain), learning how to lower your stress levels would essentially reduce your level of pain. Meditation has long been known for helping people to do just that. Focusing only on their breathing, individuals are able to take their minds off of the pain and other stressors in their lives, therefore, reducing their stress and anxiety and decreasing their pain.
Massages
Getting a deep tissue massage could be exactly what you need to feel relief from chronic pain. The various techniques used by massage experts help to relieve pain in several ways. First, it helps to improve circulation and, therefore, increases blood flow to stiff muscles and joints. It is also believed to help release the body’s natural painkiller hormones for added relief. Lastly, massages help to reduce your levels of stress which, as discussed above, can greatly reduce your level of pain.
Changing Diet
Doctors should also work with patients on changing their diets. Inflammation is naturally produced by the body as a defense to “foreign items” in the body that can come from a number of elements (such as the foods we eat). When the body becomes inflamed, however, it leads to tension, pressure, and pain. To reduce the inflammation in the body, it is, therefore, necessary to watch what you eat. Steering clear of processed foods, reducing your consumption of sugar, eating more fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains, and steering clear of alcohol and drugs can help to reduce all-over inflammation for significant pain relief.
Managing Weight
Increased weight also attributes to chronic pain. This is especially true for patients who are suffering from arthritis as the excess weight bears on their stiff and sore joints making it more painful. Maintaining a healthy weight, therefore, would help to reduce chronic pain. Sticking to a regular workout routine and an anti-inflammatory diet such as discussed above can help you get and stay on the right track.
Unfortunately, the opioid ordeal continues to plague the households of millions around the US. Though the FDA and other government organizations are trying to do more to crack down on this epidemic, it will also take the education and support of doctors and patients to bring this all to an end. For those suffering from conditions that cause chronic pain, learning alternative solutions such as those discussed above can provide you with the relief you need without the consequences of addiction and/or death.