If you suffer from any chronic pain, at one point in your life, you may have been given the option of taking “behind-the-counter” medication, to provide you with pain relief. However, the medications provided are not cures, much less a treatment. How aware are you of the true effect your painkillers are having on your body?
What are painkillers?
While there are circumstances in which painkillers are used, let us mention that these are typically acute cases or very extreme and urgent circumstances. Painkillers are very powerful drugs that block pain, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and other NSAIDS. After receiving these drugs via either mouth or injection, they work by blocking certain enzymes that in part leads to a decrease in your reaction to pain, making it more tolerable.
Why is it a problem if it helps my pain?
Yes, painkillers may make you more tolerable to pain; however, it does not mean that your condition has been treated. Yet, this way of thinking often leads to graver consequences, such as death. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Drug overdoses have been the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. with painkiller related deaths rising to 18,893 in 2014.[1]
What are my alternatives?
To begin with, work with a doctor to stop using painkillers as long-term pain management option. Stopping medication cold turkey is often advised against, so make sure you are under the care of a physician before making any choices about your medication. At The Regenerative Medicine Center, we do not manage patient's pain by relying on drugs. Our team provides you with a multimodal approach to treating pain induced by your pain condition or injury. Head over to our procedure sections and see how we can help you approach the top types of pain, which happen to be: lower back pain, migraine pain, and neck pain, with our alternative treatment options including PRP Therapy, Stem Therapy and Viscosupplementation.
With our approach not only can you avoid surgery and the cost of prescription drugs but, we can also help you recover with a more natural approach. If you'd like more information on how to treat your condition without the aid of prescription medicine, contact us to book an appointment today!
[1] Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality File. (2015). Number and Age-Adjusted Rates of Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics and Heroin: United States, 2000–2014. Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control and Prevention.