With so much speculation and controversy surrounding the use of painkillers in chronic pain treatment, ConsumerReports released a 2014 report on the reason Americans should be concerned about opioid medication. According to reports, approximately 17,000 people die each year from overdosing on drugs such as methadone, morphine, and OxyContin.
At Southwest Spine and Pain Center, our patients’ safety is our number one concern. Our board certified pain specialists never prescribe a treatment if any worry of patient safety is raised. Our four Utah locations, located in Richfield, St. George, Logan, and Cedar City, are equipped with the necessary assessment tools and technologies to determine effective treatment strategies, which may or may not include the use of prescription pain medication.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently strengthened controls on opioid medication. While prescription painkillers are effective in relieving pain, many people choose to take more than their prescription and end up abusing their bodies. Dr. Seddon Savage, Director of the Dartmouth Center on Addiction Recovery and Education, says, “Opioids can be very safe if used as prescribed, but they are powerful medications that need to be respected.
ConsumerReports’ researchers evaluated and identified five things chronic pain patients should know before considering using opioid medication for pain:
- They don’t work well against long-term pain. Researchers report that opioid drugs are a viable treatment option for short-term pain relief from a broken bone or surgery, for instance.
- Leftover pills from an old prescription could be dangerous. Chronic opioid users often develop a higher tolerance to opioids. If you used a high dose prescription for pain at one point in your life and decide to brush off the dust from an unfinished prescription—beware! Accidental overdoses often result from this exact scenario.
- Your nightly glass of wine should be off-limits. A recent research study of chronic pain patients who regularly use medications to alleviate pain, revealed that 12 percent said they consume at least two alcoholic drinks within hours of taking an opioid. Dr. Roger Chou, associate profession of medicine at Oregon Health and Science University says, “A higher percentage of deaths from overdoses occur in patients who are also using alcohol.”
To see the entire report, visit http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2014/01/5-surprising-things-you-need-to-know-about-prescription-painkillers/index.htm. Talk to a Southwest Spine and Pain specialist to learn how you can properly manage your pain without the risk of health defects.
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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