Treatment for Chronic Pain in Port Matilda, PA

Chronic pain is a pervasive and complex health issue that can significantly impact a person’s daily life. The U.S. Pain Foundation estimates that about 20% of American adults deal with some form of chronic pain. While medications like opioids have been traditionally used to manage chronic pain, the risk of dependency and addiction is real, prompting a shift toward more sustainable treatments that contribute to a person’s overall health and well-being.

At St. Joseph Institute in Central Pennsylvania, we understand the difficulty of managing chronic pain and how easy it is to become addicted to the medications used to alleviate it. If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic pain and looking for a way to manage it without opioid medications, we can help.

Chronic Pain and Mental Health

Chronic pain is defined as pain that is experienced on most days of the week for a period of six months or more. A wide range of medical conditions, including osteoarthritis, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, and migraines, have been linked to chronic pain.

Chronic pain not only affects physical comfort and mobility, but it also takes a toll on mental health, contributing to conditions like depression and anxiety. Individual experiences with chronic pain vary, but pain is well-recognized to have a negative impact on a person’s mental health. Sources estimate that 35% to 45% of people with chronic pain experience depression. Chronic pain also has a close correlation with anxiety and can even be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder.

To help themselves cope with the symptoms of depression and anxiety, many people struggling with chronic pain turn to drugs and alcohol, both of which can temporarily numb negative emotions. Of course, the solution of substance use is not long-term and will likely worsen both the physical pain and the mental health issue over time. The person may also develop a substance use disorder, further compromising their ability to manage their pain.

The Opioid Dilemma

While some chronic pain patients turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with pain, others become overly reliant on the opioid medications intended to relieve pain. Opioid addiction is the most common substance use disorder among chronic pain patients. Generally, addiction begins with a legitimate prescription. Opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine have long been a mainstay in chronic pain management. These medications work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, reducing the perception of pain.

While opioid painkillers such as Percocet and OxyContin are highly effective, they must be taken with great care, and they are not intended to be a long-term solution.

Without vigilant monitoring and education about the addictive nature of prescription opioids, patients may take higher than prescribed doses or combine opioids with alcohol to increase the sedative properties. Eventually, people who have developed an addiction to their medications may turn to street drugs such as heroin when prescription pills become too difficult to obtain.

The opioid epidemic affects people from all walks of life. If you or a loved one is struggling with misuse of prescription opioids, it’s not your fault. These drugs are powerful, just as the desire to be free from chronic pain is powerful. But no matter how much you’re relying on pain pills, and no matter how severe your pain, help is available. You can break free from opioid dependence with professional guidance and care. Reaching out for help now can minimize the long-term consequences associated with addiction—including the risk of a fatal overdose.

Addressing Chronic Pain Without Opioids

Opioid addiction does not reflect a character flaw or indicate a lack of willpower. To promote lasting sobriety, however, you must address the chronic pain that led to the substance use disorder at the same time you are learning how to prevent relapse.

Fortunately, there are many ways to manage and cope with chronic pain that do not require strong drugs. Let’s take a look.

• Exercise and Movement – Tailored physical activity helps improve flexibility, strength, and overall function. Low-impact exercises like swimming or yoga can be particularly beneficial. Working with a physical therapist will ensure that you perform the most effective movements with the proper alignment.
  
• Manual Therapy – Techniques such as massage and joint mobilization can reduce pain and improve mobility.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – This form of talk therapy addresses the psychological factors at play in physical pain. CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns related to pain.

• Acupuncture – This ancient healing art involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow. Some studies suggest acupuncture can alleviate chronic pain symptoms.
• Mind-Body Techniques – These include therapies that teach people to control their physiological responses, such as heart rate and muscle tension. Examples include biofeedback, mindfulness meditation, and progressive relaxation.

• Medications Without Addiction Potential – These include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen. Acetaminophen is also effective for mild to moderate pain relief and lacks the addictive properties of opioids.

• Nerve Blocks and Radiofrequency Ablation – Nerve blocks are injections of local anesthetics or steroids that can block pain signals from specific nerves. Radiofrequency Ablation uses heat to interrupt pain signals from specific nerves, providing longer-term relief.

• Lifestyle Modifications: A balanced diet with anti-inflammatory foods may contribute to pain management, as well as adequate and restful sleep, stress reduction practices, and social connections that provide support and fun.

Treatment for Chronic Pain at St. Joseph Institute

At St. Joseph Institute for Addiction’s Pennsylvania residential treatment center, we understand both chronic pain and the substance use issues that can often accompany it. Our innovative chronic pain management program, launched in August 2020, combines relaxation training and neuroscience classes, so clients understand how to manage pain without the need for addictive medications. Our chronic pain program includes three key components:

• Pain education. We help our clients understand the neuroscience of pain and how to modify their lifestyle to help with symptoms such as muscle tightness and stiffness. This empowers clients to take control of their condition.
• Physical therapy. We provide clients with one-on-one visits with our physical therapy team to help evaluate and treat pain and stiffness.
• Relaxation training. Often, people with substance use disorders related to chronic pain suffer from anxiety that intensifies their symptoms. Our program teaches relaxation techniques that calm the overworked nervous system.

For clients who have developed a substance use disorder in conjunction with chronic pain, we provide addiction treatment alongside the chronic pain program. Treatment may begin with detox and progress with individual, group, and family therapy as well as holistic interventions and relapse prevention education.

We’re Here to Help

If you are struggling with pain and the mental health or substance use complications that may accompany it, St. Joseph Institute for Addiction is well-equipped to help. Contact our admissions counselors to learn more about what we can do to help you reclaim control of your life and well-being.