Guest Post: Pain Management - A Way Out of Addiction To Pain-Killers and Opiates

Pain is a natural process we all have to go through in life, physical pain being the most common type. Whether it be from the prick of a needle or the debilitating pain of rheumatism, such circumstances require appropriate management, otherwise it can critically affect one's lifestyle. The use of painkillers and opiates are typical in the medical field. Ranging from Hydrocodone to Morphine, these valuable tools are used to treat many different diseases and injuries, including ankle sprains, headaches, animal bites, etc. Though they are safe to use in controlled frequencies and amounts within the care and observation of medical institutions, things can go out of hand when measures proper care isn't taken. If this sound all too familiar to you, here's what you should know.

What is Addiction? To work your way out of painkiller and opiate addiction, you must first understand when you're in that actual state. There are many symptoms of addiction that anyone can recognize. They are somewhat of a gray matter, however, mainly because pain is a subjective experience. Since different patients have different thresholds for pain, it becomes complicated to know whether the drugs have failed to manage the patient's pain or whether the patient is lying in order to be administered more painkillers. Common signs of addiction include running out of a prescription early, telling your physician the prescription is lost, using multiple doctors to get pain medication, and borrowing pain medication from friends.

The Best Solution Withdrawing from painkillers and opiates may just be as difficult and consequential as withdrawing from stronger illegal drugs. For this reason, it is recommended that one enter an inpatient facility in order to take on this challenging process right. An inpatient detox facility can help you through the initial pains of detox. The first few days are usually the hardest and most demanding, as it causes chills, fever, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, due to spontaneous withdrawal. The staff in this facility also will also help one to understand why they began using in the first place and how to avoid making the same mistakes again.

Other Options? If inpatient care is not an option, the next best way to withdraw safely and effectively from painkillers and opiates is to slowly but surely stop taking the substance. For many, stopping spontaneously only makes the process of withdrawal more complicated and escalates the chances of a relapse before one even has the opportunity to orient themselves.

Natural Pre-Emption One of the best ways to avoid addiction to dangerous substances is to head off the reasons for taking them in the first place. For instance, headaches are currently the most common form of pain in today's fast-paced lifestyle. Many factors lead to headaches, and they can commonly be dealt with by tuning in to what your body naturally requires (rest, reduction of stress, etc), instead of simply reaching for drugs.

Painkillers and opiates do have advantageous effects. However, make sure you practice only the pain management techniques prescribed by a doctor. Even if you think something's not working or not strong enough, never make an adjustment to your dosage without consulting a professional - and never, ever try any medication without a prescription. Not only is it illegal, it could have very dangerous side effects.

Mya Gilmore is a nurse who writes about health, nutrition and more at the Bow Creek & Bella Vista Recovery Centers.