Safely and Effectively Managing Pain Without Opioids Feature Topics Drug Overdose

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Medical marijuana is a term that can refer to use of the whole plant or one or more of its compounds — like CBD — to treat symptoms of illness or other conditions. Cleveland Clinic Community Care puts patients first by offering comprehensive, coordinated, personalized healthcare. Pain relievers ease discomfort brought on by illness, injury, surgical procedures and chronic conditions. Arnica is a plant extract useful for bruises, Pain Relief, and swelling.

Hypnosis has reduced the pain of some harmful medical procedures in children and adolescents. In clinical trials addressing other patient groups, it has significantly reduced pain compared to no treatment or some other non-hypnotic interventions. The effects of self hypnosis on chronic pain are roughly comparable to those of progressive muscle relaxation.

Opioid medications can provide short, intermediate or long acting analgesia depending upon the specific properties of the medication and whether it is formulated as an extended release drug. Opioid medications may be administered orally, by injection, via nasal mucosa or oral mucosa, rectally, transdermally, intravenously, epidurally and intrathecally. In chronic pain conditions that are opioid responsive, a combination of a long-acting or extended release medication is often prescribed along with a shorter-acting medication for breakthrough pain, or exacerbations. Radiofrequency treatment has been seen to improve pain in patients for facet joint low back pain. However, continuous radiofrequency is more effective in managing pain than pulsed radiofrequency. OTC pain relievers can be helpful in treating many types of pain.

The exact way in which these medicines control pain is unclear, but it is thought that they minimize the effects of nerves that sense pain. Some examples include carbamazepine , gabapentin , pregabalin , and topiramate . Topical pain relievers are also available without a doctor's prescription. These products include creams, lotions, or sprays that are applied to the skin in order to relieve pain from sore muscles and arthritis. Some examples of topical pain relievers include Aspercreme, BenGay, capsaicin cream, diclofenac gel, and Icy Hot.

All patients are seen Monday through Thursday mornings in our Pain Clinics. Each appointment includes a visit from an anesthesiologist who specializes in pediatric pain, a nurse practitioner and a pain psychologist. Our outpatient Pain Clinic is the only one of its kind in the Southeast, treating more than 200 children and teens each year. Our team of experts combines the latest technology with a caring, child-friendly approachto deliver customized treatment options based on each child’s condition and needs. Prescription opioids can be an effective form of pain management, but they are not always the only option. It is important to understand the potential benefits and risks before you begin taking medications.

Effective management of chronic (long-term) pain, however, frequently requires the coordinated efforts of the pain management team. Effective pain management does not always mean total eradication of all pain. Rather, it often means achieving adequate quality of life in the presence of pain, through any combination of lessening the pain and/or better understanding it and being able to live happily despite it. Consensus in evidence-based medicine and the recommendations of medical specialty organizations establish guidelines to determine the treatment for pain which health care providers ought to offer. For various social reasons, persons in pain may not seek or may not be able to access treatment for their pain. Health care providers may not provide the treatment which authorities recommend.

Patients could also take a more natural approach by taking different minerals, vitamins or herbs. However, research has shown there is a difference between rural patients and non-rural patients having more access to different self-management approaches. Physicians in these areas may be readily prescribing more pain medication in these rural cities due to being less experienced with pain management. Simply put it is sometimes easier for rural patients to get a prescription that insurance pays for instead of natural approaches that cost more money than they can afford to spend on their pain management. Studies have demonstrated the usefulness of cognitive behavioral therapy in the management of chronic low back pain, producing significant decreases in physical and psychosocial disability.