Back pain being the second most common physical complaint aired by patients to doctors, is said to be most prevalent in about 20% of the US working population. It may be acute and short term or may be severe and chronic as well. Hence, there are cases that sufferers feel crippled by their recurring health disorders. Due to this, they often resort to quick fixes as their treatment for chronic back pain.
Aside from exercise therapies, anti-swelling medications, massages or spine manipulation therapies, the patient may also be prescribed with anti-depressants as part of their treatment for chronic back pain.
Due to the stresses and anxiety of not being able to perform well at work, or waning finances for not being able to report for work, some patients will often result to pill-popping. Allegedly, they do this to numb themselves to the effects of pain. The only problem is, this situation often leads to addiction.
In fact even doctors are being criticized for allowing the abuse in pain medications since they themselves are tempted to treat their patients with opioids in view of their long lasting relief as pain medications. Due to the difficulty in arriving at the most suitable treatment for chronic back pain, some doctors are said to be prescribing addiction instead of actually providing the right cure.
Hence, the medical community has admonished both doctors and patients alike for their total disregard about the limitations of opioids as treatment for chronic back pain. Doctors are even reminded that the prescription of such addictive medications should also consider the patients’ ability to handle the addictive effects of the drugs even prior to its prescription.
Pain Management to Counter Drug Addiction
One way to avoid addiction to drugs prescribed as treatment for chronic back pain is to include Pain Management as part of the healing method. Even as narcotic pain relievers will become necessary, the pain management team in charge of the patient will carefully assess and monitor the following:
1. Family history of the patient particularly incidences of drug addiction or dependence;
2. Personal history or background including cases of physical or sexual abuse;
3. Mental disorder or illness no matter how slightly it occurred in the early stages of the patient’s life.
Factors such as these will be taken into consideration, not for the intention of depriving the patient with narcotic pain treatment for chronic back pain but to measure the degree of monitoring required when such medications will be prescribed.
The patient will be properly informed of the risks involved and the benefits he or she will be deprived of in case he or she will succumb to addiction. Patients will be oriented in the proper use of their drug medication in order to avoid becoming addicted or dependent on the substance:
1. Use the pain medication only when necessary and as prescribed.
2. Do not take alcohol or other recreational drugs.
3. Properly discard unused prescribed pain medications to prescription collection sites to avoid possible or future temptations.
4. Do not allow or make such drugs accessible to friends and family members, especially those who can be influenced by outside forces.
Pain relieving medications may provide the relief you need to help you get on with your daily life. However, you must keep in mind that addiction is not the ultimate treatment for chronic back pains
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Opioids can be taken safely, but only if the patient is aware of the consequences of addiction. When I was first prescribed enough opioid medication (oxycontin at the time), I took more than prescribed and paid a price for doing so. I became addicted to oxycontin, (which I think should only be available to terminal diagnosis, when taken in large amounts for extended amount of time). Until I was given the privilege to manage my pain with large amounts of opioids. I only received 30 or demerol a month. This drug is not intended for pain management and did little to relieve my symptoms. So when I got the oxycontin it was such a relief I over did it..to say the least. I never needed early refills or had aberrant behavior, but I did not take it as prescribed. Thus I became addicted. I nearly lost my wife, kids and my life. I now am on morphine. Which you would think is a lot worse. You would be wrong. Morphine only produces dysphoria not euphoria when taken orally. I take a long acting and breakthrough morphine. I take it as directed and only when I need it. Opioids are a necessary part of a holistic approach to pain management. I will be on them the rest of my life. However I learned the hard way not to abuse my medication. To take it only when I really need it. And to realize that it is a privilege to be trusted and have a good relationship with my doctor.