Chronic pain is a very real condition in which a person’s central nervous system feels constant or frequent pain even when there is no immediate trauma present. By definition, chronic pain is any type of pain that continues for 12 weeks or longer, often going well beyond what would be expected for normal healing.
Many people turn to opioid medications because they are so effective at reducing pain signals. However, opioids carry the risk of dependency, tolerance, and overdose. If you’re facing opioid use disorder right now, and you’re worried that the pain will come back, know that there is very real and effective help available.
At English Mountain Recovery, our team of highly skilled therapists and medical professionals can help you find the best possible way forward. Not only can we help you recover from opioid use disorder (OUD), but we’ll also help you find real pain therapy. Restoring your health and well-being is possible.
What Causes Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain develops for numerous reasons. Acute pain can become chronic pain. For example, a fall that causes a broken hip can create intense immediate pain that continues long-term. Other times, chronic pain develops over a period of time, such as due to the buildup of diseases like arthritis, inflammation, or nerve damage.
There are some situations where environmental factors contribute to the development of chronic pain. And, in other cases, psychological factors can also play a role in what you’re feeling. Depression and stress can contribute to and even worsen chronic pain.
A person with chronic pain may face challenges in everyday life. It makes relationships hard. Stressful and intense moments become even more challenging to manage. Doing anything seems challenging. All of this can lead to the onset of mental health complications, including anxiety and depression.
When Opioids Treat Pain but Cause Addiction
Opioids are one of the most effective treatments for pain. Often used after serious injuries, surgeries, and painful diseases, opioids turn off the pain signals traveling to your brain, giving you relief. That’s why you may seek them out so much.
Over time, your brain learns that those medications are helping to reduce the pain and may be helping you to feel better. You may even experience a sense of euphoria. Your brain is naturally programmed to seek out things that make it feel good. This leads to structural changes in your brain, so much so that you start craving the substance.
The problem with opioids is that they are incredibly addictive. Consistent use makes you more likely to develop a dependence on them. Once that happens, it becomes challenging for you to stop using it on your own, even if you want to.
You don’t want to feel the pain. You want to live an active and healthy lifestyle. It may seem that that’s impossible. However, with drug and alcohol treatment from our clinicians and professionals, we can create a plan to deal with both conditions at the same time.
How to Deal With Chronic Pain
The first goal is to alleviate your pain. Even people who struggled for decades with constant pain can often find relief. New strategies and holistic therapy can help. It may take a bit of time, but through the use of strategies such as the following, we can create a pain-free life for you:
- Non-opioid medications: Our doctors will work with you to determine if any specific non-habit-forming medications are available to offer relief from pain. Numerous medications are becoming available to allow for this type of therapy. That can include medications like gabapentin or pregabalin for nerve pain.
- Physical therapy: It seems impossible, but physical therapy is often one of the most effective strategies for overcoming long-term pain. This is not just fitness routines, but highly customized exercise programs designed to improve mobility and function while also building strength.
- Acupuncture: Many people find relief through the use of acupuncture, a holistic, highly effective strategy that works to disrupt the pain signals traveling to your brain.
- Chiropractic care: In some situations, patients benefit from the use of chiropractic care, which stimulates natural healing and reduces pain signals.
Many other options exist as well, including yoga, tai chi, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, spinal cord stimulation, and much more. In the long term, most people can find treatment for chronic pain, and we’ll help you to do just that.
Treatment for OUD
While treating the pain is important, we also need to address the opioid use disorder that has formed. At English Mountain Recovery, we offer a range of therapy programs to help you do just that. You may benefit from our medically monitored detox program. It will help provide immediate treatment for your dependency while also working hard to manage your pain. This is where the most control begins.
Residential treatment provides a way to continue your journey to pain-free, addiction-free living. We’ll provide comprehensive services and support to help you heal. You’ll learn how to manage stress, deal with cravings, and build a drug-free lifestyle.
Some people may benefit from our virtual intensive outpatient care as well. This is one of the many ways our team can help you to start the healing process while you continue to live at home.
Get the Care You Need Now
Take time right now to act. Contact English Mountain Recovery today. Let us begin to work on a treatment plan that addresses your unique needs and provides you with the recovery you deserve. Contact us now. You do not have to live a life limited by chronic pain.
