The opioid crisis of the past decade has led to changes to the way drugs are prescribed in the United States. Not too long ago, patients dealing with even moderate pain were sometimes prescribed drugs like hydrocodone and oxycodone, some of the most addictive substances in existence. As of 2023, 60 million people worldwide are dealing with the effects of opioid addiction, according to The Lancet.
Of course, these drugs are still appropriate in certain situations, such as the acute pain associated with, say, a broken bone or surgery. But for managing chronic, long-term pain, many patients would prefer to avoid the prospect of depending on an addictive substance for years on end or even a lifetime. That’s why we provide a range of pain management services geared toward managing chronic pain without recourse to addictive prescription drugs, unless that’s what’s right for your pain.
Every Patient Is Different
We all experience pain at some point in our lives. It is a universal human experience. We don’t, however, all experience pain in the same way. It’s important that healthcare professionals listen to their patients to get a clearer understanding of how they experience pain.
For some chronic conditions, opioids are the only suitable treatment option. In those cases, your healthcare team at Alertive will empower you to treat your pain responsibly and effectively with prescription drugs, including education on dosage, side effects, and proper disposal. Since the effects of the opioid epidemic have come to light, there has been extensive research advising doctors on when to prescribe opioids, how much to prescribe, and for how long. As pain management specialists, we keep up-to-date on the latest research, and we have the ability to act on that research and translate it into language that people who aren’t medical professionals can understand.
Alternative Interventions
Non-Prescription Drugs: Moderate chronic pain, such as arthritis pain, can often be managed with over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil), acetaminophen (Tylenol), or naproxen (Aleve). Your healthcare team will determine which one is appropriate for you given your medical history. For instance, people with liver disease or who are taking blood thinners might be advised not to take acetaminophen.
Diet, Exercise, and Sleep Hygiene: While not always a fix by themselves, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and restful sleep all reduce inflammation and stress and help the body heal. See this blog post for more information [link to diet/exercise/sleep blog. I don’t think it’s been posted yet].
Nerve Blocks: Using ultrasound, we can pinpoint the location of the nerves causing you pain. We then inject medication into the area that prevents the nerve from sending pain signals to your brain. Nerve blocks are not a permanent solution and will need to be re-administered periodically, but they are effective for pain associated with surgery, arthritis, back injury, and headaches.
Radiofrequency Ablation: For patients with chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other interventions, radiofrequency ablation is an option. As with the administration of nerve blocks, we first pinpoint the precise origin of the pain. We then use heat to sever the specific nerve sending pain signals to your brain. Radiofrequency ablation is especially effective for people with chronic back pain.
Finding the Right Treatment For You
These interventions are often recommended in conjunction with others. Your team at Alertive will work with you to develop a comprehensive pain management plan. These are only a few of the pain management interventions we offer; see the bottom of this page for a complete list. If you are experiencing chronic pain, call us today for an appointment. Together, we will figure out which treatment options are best for your needs.
