Pain meds not working?
Date: 09th February 2022 | By: Dr Lourdes Gaspar
This is an interesting study and publication looking at the range of techniques, tools, remedies and any other approach which patients utilise to manage their chronic pain.
This study found that adults with chronic pain in the US use a variety of pain management techniques, including opioids.
It says, “While effective for some, opioids prescribed for chronic pain management remain an important determinant of the national opioid crisis.
Nonpharmacologic and nonopioid pharmacologic therapies are preferred treatments for chronic pain, and it is encouraging to note that most adults with chronic pain use a combination of various nonopioid modalities for treatment.
However, only 3.8% of participants reported using psychological therapies.
Psychological therapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy, is effective for improving chronic pain, and our study indicates that it is underused.”
The report continues,
“Moreover, 39.1% of adults with chronic pain reported using other pain approaches not specifically captured in the data set.”
The Study concludes,
Improved understanding of effective nonopioid pain management techniques is needed to reduce the reliance on opioids for chronic pain.
The study mentions the under usage of psychological techniques. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is one such psychological technique that sufferers of chronic pain and commissioners and providers of service should consider. Applied to pain, ACT has increasingly been shown to better cope the devastating emotional impact these conditions invariably cause. Furthermore, it is being shown that improvements in mental and emotional health reduce pain levels.
At ACTforPAIN.com, we are trying to raise awareness of the possibilities of reducing/ avoiding pain medications, and reliance on repeat injections (e.g., steroids) whilst promoting evidence based psychological approaches to better managing chronic pain.
#chronicpain
#painsmanagement
#acceptanceandcommittmenttherapy
#fibromyalgia