Drug free alternatives to manage pain

Making the decision to detox to treat your drug or alcohol addiction is a wonderful first step towards recovery, but many people are often scared about going through withdrawal. When the body goes through detoxification, a number of side effects can occur, from sweating and fatigue to nausea and vomiting. Withdrawal symptoms can even be painful, which is why recovery centers like ours often offer medical detox services. By administering medication, facilities can help ease the withdrawal process for patients.

However, medication isn’t helpful for everyone, especially since many painkillers are made with opiates, which are highly addictive. If you have an opiate addiction – like heroin – then painkillers won’t be an option for you. Fortunately, there are drug-free alternatives to help individuals manage pain.

What is Pain Management?

Pain management broadly refers to the act of physicians prescribing painkillers to patients to treat their pain. Prescriptions are typically issued to patients after major surgeries or to treat people with long-term issues like chronic pain, cancer-related pain, and other health conditions.

When it comes to addiction treatment, rehab centers equipped with a team of clinicians can also administer medications to manage withdrawal symptoms.

The most commonly prescribed opioid painkillers include:

• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Codeine
• Morphine

Doctors can also prescribe non-opioid drugs to treat pain while also decreasing a patient’s dependence on opioid painkillers, such as beta-blockers like labetalol, antidepressants like duloxetine, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.

Holistic Pain Management Options

Research has shown that pain can be treated through a variety of drug-free methods, which is why so many rehab centers today offer activities like yoga. Yoga can help manage pain because it treats the mind, body, and spirit all at once.

Many people credit acupuncture, which involves inserting needles into various areas of the body, with helping ease their pain during withdrawal. Acupuncture is meant to interrupt pain signals and reportedly lessens opioid cravings, relieves insomnia, and reduces feelings of panic and anxiety.

For centuries, people have relied on natural medicines to relieve their pain, and some still rely on old family recipes or local herbal shops. Some of these natural medicines include ginseng and Tai-Kang-Ning, both of which are traditional Chinese herbal medicines that can improve withdrawal symptoms and depression. Other common medicines include black seed, ginger, and passionflower, which can usually be consumed in tea.

Other types of pain management options include massage therapy, physical therapy, and mindfulness meditation. Thanks to the availability of these treatments, you don’t have to worry about going through the pain of withdrawal if you’re unable to be medicated.

Helping Patients Manage Pain During Detox

Though Mount Sinai Wellness Center regularly treats patients in our medically supervised medication programs, we also offer alternative pain management options for those who prefer or would benefit from drug-free treatments.

Some of the services we offer include:

• Chiropractic
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Aqua therapy
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Physical exercise
• Evidence-based CBT

Withdrawing from drugs or alcohol can be an uncomfortable and even painful process, and many people with addictions put off seeking help because they’re scared of putting themselves through it – understandably so. However, detoxing in a professional environment where your symptoms can be monitored by medical staff is the safest way for you to begin your recovery. At our facility, we can work closely with you to identify various ways we can treat your pain. Each person is unique and responds to medication in different ways, which is why we provide each patient with personalized services designed to serve your needs and goals.