Opioids have been helping individuals manage pain symptoms from injuries, chronic conditions and illnesses for centuries. Unfortunately, drug dependency is an issue not only for American civilians, but for the brave men and women who serve in our military too.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription drug abuse is higher among service members than civilians and it is currently on the rise; the number of service members reporting misuse from prescription drugs increased from 9 percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2008.
The specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center care deeply about providing patients (service members and civilians alike) with the help they need, whether it is through a highly controlled prescription medication, injection or minimally invasive procedure.
Therefore, the pain management physicians were delighted to learn of the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs launch of a five-year, $21.7 million initiative to study the effectiveness of alternative therapies to opioids for veterans in pain.
The research program will include the study of morning light treating lower-back pain and post-traumatic stress disorder in addition to the use of chiropractors, self-hypnosis and medication to reduce chronic pain symptoms. This will be a step in the right direction for troops returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, because roughly 44 percent of them are reporting chronic pain symptoms.
This is an alarmingly high rate considering the rate for the general population is 26 percent. Nevertheless, the research study should provide some key findings on what supplemental therapies help curb opioid prescription abuse for veterans suffering with chronic pain.
Chronic pain is not an easy thing to live with, let alone control. Let the pain management team at Southwest Spine and Pain Center help you find your best chronic pain solution. The center provides treatment options that include, but are not limited to, epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, platelet-rich plasma injections, radiofrequency ablation, and much more. Each therapy is administered by a highly qualified physician and provides long-lasting results.
Plus, if you have a loved one that suffers from addiction, you can feel good knowing the possibility of abuse is limited because these therapies are highly controlled and preformed in-office by certified physicians.
If chronic pain is impacting your life, don't wait to schedule an appointment at Southwest Spine and Pain Center. With three locations and growing, the pain management specialists at Southwest Spine and Pain Center are dedicated to helping those who suffer from chronic pain live the life they want to! To schedule an appointment, visit our locations tab!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.
©Southwest Spine and Pain Center, 2014
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