Chronic Pain and Prescription Medication Dependency

More than 50 million people deal with chronic pain on a daily basis across America. For some, chronic pain comes from poorly healed past injuries, conditions like fibromyalgia that affect muscle and connective tissue, nerve damage, or even psychological pain manifested in the body. Many sufferers of chronic pain may also simply not have yet received an accurate diagnosis, leaving them without a pinpointed medical reason and solution, on top of the daily discomfort. Patients with autoimmune diseases such as cancer or AIDS also experience high levels of chronic pain on a daily basis.

Physical and Mental Effects of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain impairs more than our sense of movement. In fact, chronic pain can make the simplest daily tasks incredibly taxing, forcing us to rely on others when we would rather rely on ourselves. Studies have shown that sufferers of chronic pain also experience psychological anguish, as well including isolation, depression, anxiety or difficulty focusing due to intense pain. Chronic pain itself can be long-term but extremely sharp, leaving individuals who suffer from it without relief, affecting job performance, relationships and general enjoyment.

Prescription Medication Dependency and Chronic Pain

Prescription medication can be an extremely valid pain management option for those who experience chronic pain. The most popular prescribed medications for treating chronic pain are known as opioids medications such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet), oxycontin, or drugs like morphine or Demerol. These drugs bind to opioid receptors in the brain and body, blocking the body's perception of pain to provide temporary relief.

However, opioids can become addictive over time, especially in individuals who experience chronic pain. The longer and higher the dosage of legitimate opioid usage, the more the body builds up tolerance to its effects naturally. As a result, dosage often needs to be increased over time to provide suffering individuals the same level of relief. Unfortunately, studies have shown that tolerance to opioids' painkilling effects does not mean that other side effects of the medication are naturally tolerated quite as well. This can lead to an increase in side effects, or overdose as dosage climbs too high in an attempt to kill residual pain.

Additionally, opioids cause a chemical shift in the brain and body, which the body naturally adapts to. When opioid medication continues over time, the body is able to reachieve artificial balance when the opioid is again ingested. However, if opioid usage suddenly stops, the body begins to feel the chemical alteration and imbalance, leading to withdrawal pangs. Sometimes, this can lead to prescription medication dependency where the body experiences the physical effects of withdrawal symptoms. In these cases, other non-opioid pain medications should be considered if possible, and alternative therapies explored as complements to palliative medical care.

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