Holistic pain management at a chronic pain treatment center seeks to help you alleviate symptoms without the use of potentially dangerous or addictive medications.
Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for emergency room visits in the United States. Overall, more than 20% of American adults have dealt with chronic pain within the past year, with more than 8% dealing with severe chronic pain. Medical conditions such as arthritis are not only very common but result in intense and sometimes debilitating pain. Many times, conditions that cause chronic pain are incurable. Degenerative discs and arthritis are two examples of chronic pain conditions that are incurable.
When you deal with chronic pain, you usually must utilize medications to treat symptoms. Unfortunately, many painkillers are highly prone to abuse and are addictive. Opiate painkillers such as oxycodone and OxyContin are among the most prescribed medications in the United States. But opiate painkillers are very addictive and often require visiting an opiate detox center in order to recover. Those struggling with opiate addiction and other addictions can contact us to enter our intensive outpatient program in Orange County, CA.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain is a medical condition that causes you to experience intense, prolonged pain that interferes with your day to day life. Some of the most common medical problems that result in chronic pain include:
- Degenerative and herniated discs
- Back injuries
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Traumatic injuries
- Migraines
Some chronic pain conditions get better with time, while others worsen. Back pain is one of the leading causes of chronic pain. While some back problems can be rectified with surgery or other treatments, most cause lingering chronic pain that worsens as you age. When you age, your tissue and cartilage begin to wear down from years of use. Conditions such as arthritis cause long-term throbbing and can be difficult to control even with the use of medications.
Chronic pain is also a leading cause of missed worked days and disability. When pain begins to limit your ability to participate in the day to day activities, such as lifting, working out, driving or walking, it can cause you to feel isolated and depressed. Missing out on enjoyable activities because of chronic pain can lead to depression, which ultimately makes your pain worse.
It is important when dealing with chronic pain to understand the benefits and risks of medications and to review holistic pain management strategies.
Holistic Pain Management
So, what is holistic pain management? Holistic pain management focuses on treating your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Chronic pain can be reduced through lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising. Low impact exercises, such as the exercises performed in our fitness therapy for addiction, can not only reduce pain but can help improve cognition, promote relaxation, and decrease stress.
Stress can worsen chronic pain and cause your body to tighten up. Reducing stress and learning how to alleviate it can significantly improve your symptoms. Holistic pain management utilizes techniques such as meditation and mindfulness to help improve your ability to decrease stress and cope with negative emotions.
Alternative pain management strategies can also include things such as acupuncture treatment and massages. Acupuncture can promote healing and relaxation, while massages can reduce tension. Holistic pain management can also use techniques such as aromatherapy to reduce stress.
Holistic treatments have few side effects and can be safely used side by side with evidence-based treatments, therapy, and medications. The limited side effects make holistic pain management treatment especially helpful if you struggle with harmful side effects from medications or don’t want to take potentially addictive painkillers.
Finding Help Today
Chronic pain can diminish your quality of life. While medications and evidence-based treatments can be effective, holistic pain management offers fewer potential side effects. Fortunately, Pillars Recovery is here to help you overcome chronic pain. We also offer an intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization program in Orange County, CA. Call us today at 866.782.0247 to learn more about our programs.