Chronic pain leads to substantially increased morbidity and mortality and increases rates of obesity and chronic disease. Patients with chronic pain undergo several other health related burdens such as poor sleep, higher blood pressure and heart rate, and lower self esteem. All these factors adversely affect the quality of life. Unfortunately, the negative consequences of chronic pain rarely lead to improvements in symptoms. In fact, patients with chronic pain may become more depressed or lose interest in their activities leading to further disability.
Although medications can bring relief from most pain, some patients with chronic pain choose to combine therapy and prescription medication. Although this treatment approach has shown great potential for improvement in patients with moderate to severe chronic pain, it has its own set of limitations. For example, prolonged use of opioids can produce a psychiatric syndrome, which includes depression and substance abuse, which can increase the likelihood of relapse. Moreover, prolonged use of opioids can also lead to severe psychological side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and memory loss.
Another limitation of most chronic pain treatments is that they provide only temporary relief from pain. As a result, patients and doctors must learn to anticipate and plan for periods of time when opioids will be necessary. For example, if a patient suffers from a back injury and cannot perform basic activities, they should receive scheduled pain assistance for a limited amount of time. If the patient wishes to continue to suffer, then additional prescription pain medication is necessary.
Another limitation of most chronic pain treatments is that they treat the pain by providing medication. This results in an effective treatment plan that is only effective if the patient also receives mental, social, and behavioral counseling. The effectiveness of such treatment is enhanced if the patient receives consistent guidance from a trained therapist. Unfortunately, there are many therapists who lack proper training or specialization in pain disorders and who are more interested in prescribing opioids than providing effective treatment plans. Therefore, it is imperative that patients obtain the services of a skilled, licensed, and board-certified therapist to provide effective treatment. Check out this link https://www.azpaindoctors.com/back-pain to get more information.
Finally, another limitation of most opioids is that they provide relief only when the patient is experiencing the discomfort associated with a condition or disease. In other words, relief from neuropathic pain may only last while the patient is experiencing the associated symptom. For example, patients suffering with pain caused by shingles may experience relief after receiving a shingle treatment, but once the patient experiences the painful blisters again, they will need to receive a new dose of opioids to prevent pain from returning.
Given these facts, it is clear that opioids are not an appropriate way to treat chronic pain. In most cases, pain management treatments (as well as drug therapies) are more effective when combined with other forms of care management. Therefore, if someone suffers from chronic pain, it is imperative that they seek a medical professional who specializes in pain management. Only then can a person be assured that their symptoms will be addressed properly and that they will receive treatment that will effectively heal their body. Find out more about the best treatments for back pain!
Learn more at https://www.britannica.com/science/back-pain
