pain medicines:Hydrocodone, Ambien: Is there an alternative?

The use of pain medicines and, in many cases addiction and dependency is spinning out of control.This writer wonders if patients are ever fully informed of alternatives to pain medicines. Pain is a difficult problem to address. However, there are other options. Thermal biofeedback is effective in increasing skin temperature and thus can increase blood flow to affected areas contributing to healing. Aquatherapy is effective for patients who can not place weight on weight bearing areas.For patients with moderate to severe impairment affecting activities of daily living, there are Functional restoration Programs..inpatient an outpatient depending on severity of impairment. Pain management groups can have great outcomes. Pain patients can gain assistance with coping with pain from learning from other patients in group as well as deriving support from group members.A program incorporating chiropractic and physical therapy and massage can be helpful with range of motion as well as flexibility. A competent personal trainer can be very helpful with balance and strength issues. Patients should query their health practitioners about conservative treatment modalities first prior to going immediately to use of opiate medicines and the risk of going down the slippery slope of addiction.Otherwise, one is trading one problem(pain) for another( addiction).Cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with the aforementioned modalities gives patients a broader range of choices with less risk of adverse consequences.Cognitive behavioral therapy helps to reprogram and restructure thinking . The theory is that thoughts cause feelings.Catastrophic thinking (my pain will never get better) can be altered with CBT to solution focused thinking.Stay Strong! Insist on being informed of ALL options..take control of your health!!