Pain Management looks into Chronic Pain alternatives
Healthcare Reform
While healthcare reform seems to be at the forefront of the news lately, the focus is only on changing where the money is coming from. There doesn’t seem to be a real discussion about what the money is for. Will it cover a pre-existing condition? What treatments will be available? How much will have to be paid out of pocket? Will everyone qualify? This is for information only, please consult with your physician for all medical concerns.
Chronic Pain
There are more than 16 million American living in severe poverty. That’s the highest number in thirty-two years. There’s little money for the essentials, let alone insurance and healthcare costs. Many of those also suffer major medical problems, one of the worst being chronic pain which is often a secondary problem due to the types of jobs, diseases, and the higher instances of crime in lower income areas. While most poor Americans qualify, the current systems of Medicaid and Medicare only cover a limited number of treatments alternatives for chronic pain. Under this system, the time it takes just to see a doctor is often anywhere from days to months. Then there’s the possibility of being referred to a specialist, which will take more time and money. Drug therapy is the primary treatment used to combat pain. But because it is so difficult to see a doctor for a refill, many patients resort to the emergency room as a means to get the medications, usually narcotics, to fight the pain.
So on top of the original condition and the chronic pain that follows, there’s a third problem: Addiction. No one listens to a poor person with an addiction to pain medicines. It’s become a stigma. Others look at them as the cause of the healthcare crisis. They abuse the system looking for a fix instead of getting a job and their own insurance. Don’t they have other options? Do they?
They should. Chronic pain is a real issue in today’s current medical system. Treating chronic pain is another problem altogether. Medication is often the first choice for treatment, sometimes with or without other treatments such as physical therapy. But narcotics designed for chronic pain may have many side effects. They are meant to solve a short-term problem such as a broken leg or post-surgical pain. The main concern with narcotics is that they are addictive and tolerance often starts after only a few weeks, leaving patients looking for stronger doses or more potent narcotics. This dependency on narcotics is becoming such a widespread epidemic-like problem. There are other medications which have been used such as prescription sleep-aides, antidepressants, anti-epileptics, muscle, relaxers, and steroids. All have risk of tolerance and dependency and some cause further complications like seizures or insomnia.
Alternatives to Traditional Pain Medications
But there are alternatives to chemical-based medications. There are several alternative treatments available to treat several ailments, including chronic pain. A natropathic physician is a medical doctor who specializes in alternative therapies. While most doctors treat symptoms, a natropathic physician will also look at the whole body, treating any underlying conditions, changing the diet, and possibly even offer counseling services to deal with the pain and addiction. They will often refer patients to those who specialize in each field. They may even recommend herbs as an alternative to drugs to help the severity of pain during treatment.
There are a small group of herbs such as black haw, vervain, and white willow that can treat pain. But like chemical-based medications, herbs can have several side effects. Vervain in particular can depress the heart rate and constrict the bronchial passages. The main issue is that herbs as a medical treatment are not currently regulated by the FDA which means dosing is not regulated. However, since herbs have been used for centuries in many countries around the world, there is a basic idea of how much, what route, and most side effects are well known and documented. The chances of dependency and tolerance are also lower. The other drawback is that not all herbs and herbalists who can prepare them are easy to come by. They can be purchased over the Internet, but the poor often don’t always have Internet access or a credit card to purchase them with.
Other herbal therapies include oils such as allspice, cinnamon, clove, mint, and tarragon oils that can be used as a topical anesthetic. These are only used topically on the skin, rubbed into area of pain. The main side effects are redness to the skin and possible allergic reaction. They also only work for a short amount of time and can be expensive.
As mentioned above, there are other alternatives to medication of any kind altogether. The best therapies, such as yoga and acupuncture are generally inexpensive, minimally invasive, and drug-free. However, while most are not currently covered by insurance, the long-term expense is often lower than chemical therapy. This makes out of pocket expense less and the likelihood that these therapies will be approved for insurance coverage in the near future.
Chiropractic therapy is always at the top of the list. Chiropractic practice is basically spinal manipulation used to adjust the spine into ‘homeostasis‘ thereby relieving pain without the use of medicine. The problem is that almost every Chiropractor has a different technique and often has a risk of spinal damage and occurence of new injury. Many insurance companies cover treatment, but only a certain amount a year, which often means the rest will be the patient’s responsibility. Several chiropractors offer payment options and don’t always use credit as a factor.
Acupuncture is another alternative with promising results and fewer side effects. It’s becoming such a popular alternative that insurance companies are making it the most insured complementary therapy as well as affordable. It’s also proving to be very effective. Acupuncture is performed by inserting hair-sized needles into certain sites all over the body to help relieve pain as well as treating other ailments. There are few side effects including temporary pain at the site where the needle is placed, and mild redness after the needle is removed.
Another recently popular therapy is yoga. Yoga is a series of movements that increase circulation and flexibility, but also strengthen muscles, joints, and bones. Certain poses have been proven to treat chronic pain by making the body stronger. Yoga is a cheap alternative as classes are usually affordable and offered all over the country now. While videos, books, and web sites can teach yoga, for pain relief, a live teacher is recommended to teach the poses properly so as to not injure the body further. The obvious side effects are similar to that of chiropractic treatment with further injury to the body. Yoga is also not recommended for all types of chronic pain. Consulting a yoga teacher before practicing yoga is best.
While medication and other chemical therapies are still the standard for chronic pain management, there is a whole world of alternative therapies that are usually more effective and more cost-efficient. This is only a small list of what can be offered. While most insurance companies still don’t recognize the use of alternative therapy, the out of pocket expense is still low. The other drawback is the stigma that alternative medicine still has. People tend to forget that there way a time when herbs were the only methods of treating any ailment. Acupuncture and yoga have been around for thousands of years, meaning their practice is well studied and mastered.
The problem is getting the poor person out of the rut of pain medications and into an active, more productive lifestyle again. Narcotics do work but have side effects. Shuffling from one doctor to another does not work. Alternative treatments can be good compliments to traditional pain medications. Treating the patient and not the symptom can work. It’s not more insurance that needed. It’s a system with better alternatives available to every patient regardless of income, social standing, and current insurance coverage. It would reduce overall cost, lower emergency room visits, and allow people to get their lives back.
Lifestyle, Pain and The Prevention And Treatment Of Cancer
Pain management doctors in Pinellas would like to know how lifestyle of an individual affects the outcome of cancer pain patients. Clearly lifestyle choices affect the incidence and treatment of cancer , according to a study published by AJLM. The article “Lifestyle Interventions in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer” looks at recent research on the five most common forms of cancer (lung, colorectal, breast, prostate and skin) and how some risk factors for these cancers can be lifestyle based and therefore controllable through alterations in human behavior. There is more studies needed to help the vast population understanding our pain patients. Pain management is not new, pain patients do not have to suffer in silence. Pain patients need to tell how they feel about excruciating pain, the more people know about pain, more people will accept that pain is a serious conditions that need to be consistently monitored and treated. Hospitals and medical staffs do no good to anybody by under treat pain management. It should be a malpractice to neglect or under treat pain. Hospitals and medical staffs need to spend time and explain in detail all alternatives and treat pain patients with the utmost care.
Please consult your physician for any medical condition. We are proud to serve our community and discuss with you about chronic pain. Phone 727 548-1111