For people that are struggling with chronic pain issues and taking prescription opiates for pain management; they may be concerned if it will lead to an opiate drug addiction. Chronic pain affects the life of more than 116 million people in the U.S. as noted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. However, many people are afraid to take prescription medication for fear of addiction.
What is Chronic Pain?
Pain that continues longer than the time it takes to heal from an injury is considered to be chronic pain and it may be constant or frequent and may last several months or longer. Most doctors agree that narcotic opiate painkillers should be the last option for pain management. Unfortunately, it is most often the first method used by many.
Rx: Problem or Remedy?
Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Demerol and Codeine are all prescription opiates and they are the drugs most prescribed for chronic pain management. Opiates are effective at relieving pain because they block the opioid receptors in the brain and central nervous system that allow the body to experience pain and pleasure. When you take prescription painkillers, rather than feel pain, you feel euphoria. Excessive and long term use of opiates may lead to the development of a tolerance, which means that it will take more of the medication to achieve the same effects as with previous doses.
Most individuals with chronic pain may self medicate with other pain medication and/or increase the amount of opiates. Self medicating could lead to dependency and opiate drug overdose. In addition to increasing the amount of painkillers taken, it is not uncommon for individuals mix pain medicine with alcohol or other drugs which is very dangerous and can be fatal.
Alternatives to Prescription Drugs
Individuals that suffer from chronic and reoccurring pain often times seek assistance from a pain management clinic to help them address their pain issues without the use of habit forming painkillers. Similar to holistic clinics that offer yoga, acupuncture and meditation; pain management centers try to find alternatives to chronic pain sufferers. For patients that have developed an addiction to an opiate painkiller, the pain management clinic will detox the patient using a tapering off method. While the patient is going through the detox process the pain management clinic will look for an alternative method for pain management.
Seek Medical Detox
Struggling with chronic and excessive pain, especially if you have an addiction to opiates may require you to seek medical detox before you can address the opiate addiction. Residential medical detox generally lasts a week to 10 days during which you will receive medication to help you through the withdrawal symptoms and at the same time remain comfortable. Studies show that individuals that are comfortable throughout the detox process are more likely to stay in detox and complete the process. The truth is that there is no reason for an individual to suffer through detox and there is a better way.
Lara Schuster writes for Gallus Medical Detox Centers. Gallus Detox provides safe drug and alcohol detox with customized IV therapy to comfortably alleviate withdrawal symptoms and patients are monitored 24/7 by ICU level nurses. This proven detox method was developed by Dr. Patrick Gallus after 15-plus years as an emergency room physician caring for alcohol and drug addicted patients. Gallus Medical Detox Centers features upscale private rooms, gourmet meals, Wi-Fi and HDTV. Patient confidentiality is always protected.