Many people who struggle with substance abuse are also facing other conditions that can complicate their addictions. In some cases, these are physical health problems that exposed them to addictive prescription drugs and ultimately caused their substance abuse problems. While they may have started taking the drug to relieve their chronic pain, the highly addictive nature of the drugs forced them to take more of the substance that was necessary. Even though they may still take the drug to help themselves cope with pain, they take excessive amounts to feed their addiction.
For individuals in these circumstances, coming to terms with their addiction is complicated by the underlying physical condition. Even though the substance use has dulled the chronic pain caused by their illness, that pain would return once the individual stopped taking the drug. This becomes an immediate concern upon entering an addiction treatment facility because the individual must stop taking the prescription drug. Continued use would only make recovery impossible, defeating the purpose of participating in the rehab program.
What Types of Chronic Pain Can Rehab Help You Relieve Naturally?
There are many different conditions that may cause you to feel ongoing pain. In some cases, these medical conditions are easily identified, but, in other cases, the causes may be harder to diagnose. This leaves caregivers unable to resolve the condition, so they must settle with alleviating the symptoms of the condition. Primarily, they look for ways to reduce or eliminate the patient’s pain, so they can function more normally in their day to day lives.
While some conditions do remain undiagnosed, there are many commonly known conditions that do cause severe and chronic pain. These conditions may include:
- Acute injuries
- Acute or chronic illnesses
- Congenital malformations
- Conditions that affect the nervous system’s ability to function
Your Needs Will Be Determined Upon Intake
Many people fear that their medical conditions won’t be considered by the staff as they begin a rehab treatment program. To the contrary, it’s now understood that physical and mental illnesses can influence or cause addiction, so treating those underlying conditions becomes necessary. Often, untreated medical conditions result in relapses after the recovering addict returns to his or her normal life. For this reason, the staff will evaluate your needs and help you learn how to cope with the chronic pain you may be experiencing. As you begin your rehab treatment plan, your caregivers may still administer regulated doses of pain medication to help you cope. These doses will likely be lower and more infrequent than the doses you have previously administered to yourself. The goal will be to give you the lowest possible dose that’s necessary to help you manage your pain.
How Will Your Addiction Treatment Program Help You Cope with Pain
Ultimately, your treatment caregivers will try to wean you off of the pain medication all together, although some recovering addicts must remain on small regulated doses indefinitely. Certain types of psychological therapy have been found effective in helping patients manage pain without the use of drugs. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one example that benefits chronic pain patients, while also retraining them to avoid drug use. Various types of counseling offered in treatment centers are aimed at addressing pain management, as well as helping recovering addicts resist drug cravings.
Additionally, there are activities available to recovering addicts in treatment that help the body cope with pain more efficiently. These are physical activities that strengthen muscles, enhance muscular endurance, and boost mobility. One common thing these activities share is that they help the body reduce the inflammation that causes pain. While the medical conditions that produce the pain are varied, reducing overall inflammation works to help the recovering addict’s pain experiences. As they see how these activities benefit them, many recovering addicts continue to utilize these natural pain management techniques after they complete the treatment program. Examples of some pain management physical therapies offered in treatment facilities may include:
- High-intensity strength training
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
The thought of dealing with your chronic pain while pursuing addiction treatment may seem like an intimidating prospect, but you can begin a positive road to recovery. If you would like to learn more about how addiction recovery is possible with your situation, contact our counselors for more information. They can be reached 24 hours a day at 772-266-5320 to answer your questions.
