Pain management plays an important part in living life more comfortably if you are experiencing chronic pain. Living with chronic pain can make living a healthy, balanced, and active lifestyle feel impossible. Often, opioids are prescribed for those living with chronic pain. However, this is not a viable option for those who are in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental illnesses.
There are ways outside of medication use to experience relief from chronic pain. Learning ways to manage, treat, and cope with chronic pain without compromising your sobriety allows you to live your life with greater ease and freedom.
Pain Management Treatment
Pain management treatment looks different from individual to individual. At Avalon Malibu, we believe in helping you gain the proper contacts and tools you need to experience relief from chronic pain.
Much of learning to navigate living with chronic pain comes from having the right support system. This system should include professionals trained to treat pain when co-occurring conditions, such as addiction, are present. They should also provide multiple options to find what works for you and what does not.
Types of Pain Management Treatment
Thankfully, there are alternative and holistic methods of regulating chronic pain and experiencing relief from its severity. Opioids and medication use are not the only options. This is great news if you are struggling with addiction along with chronic pain. Perhaps your addiction even came as a result of self-medicating chronic pain.
To learn how to cope with chronic pain, therapies that emphasize the mind-body connection are important. Pain is not only a physical sensation but also has a neurobiological component. Alternative forms of treatment may include:
- Massage therapy
- Acupuncture
- Mind-body practices, such as yoga or mediation
- Stress management
- Psychoeducation
- Physical and/or occupational therapy
Learning what does and doesn’t work for you through trial and error is the key to living with chronic pain. Working with your treatment team and getting a treatment plan customized to your needs, experiences, and goals allows you to begin experiencing relief.
Pain management can be tricky while recovering from addiction and co-occurring mental illness. Medication is not always a good option for those in recovery coping with chronic pain. Thankfully, there are alternative forms of treatment for chronic pain that allow individuals to live with greater ease and freedom to be active in their lives. At Avalon Malibu, we recognize the importance of integrating alternative forms of treatments that are effective in pain management. To begin your healing journey today, call Avalon Malibu at (844) 857-5992.
