At this point, everyone has heard about the opioid crisis – from the harrowing statistics indicating just how many have wound up addicted or dead, to the federal government’s efforts to limit patient access to the narcotic drug. For people who have thus far successfully managed their pain and improved their quality of life thanks to opioid-based treatment, they may suddenly face a dramatic reduction in the availability of these medications. This includes patients suffering from chronic, int ... [Read More]
opioid addiction
The Harmful Side Effects of Narcotic Pain Medicines
When dealing with a patient’s chronic or acute pain, there are any number of treatment options your pain management doctor may recommend, depending, of course, on the underlying cause and severity of your distress. For example, if you’re only experiencing mild or moderate head or muscle pain, you may only need over-the-counter medication to quell the discomfort. However, if you’re experiencing intense pain from an injury, illness, or prior surgery, you might be prescribed something a lot st ... [Read More]
Probuphine Implants vs. Suboxone: Which One Is a Better Choice for Opiate Detox?
If you or a loved one has ever been addicted to opiates, you know first-hand the struggle that goes along with trying to detox from them. Opiates include morphine, heroin, and prescription painkillers like oxycodone. Detoxing from an opiate addiction is extremely difficult, with many people relapsing because they can’t cope with the withdrawal symptoms – or the pain that led them to turn to opiates in the first place. Thankfully, there are prescription medications that can make the detox an ... [Read More]
Pain Management Doctors
In September 2018, the Centers for Disease Control released a new report following a survey of 33,000 Americans; it stated that 50 million Americans (more than 20 percent of the population) suffer from chronic pain. Even more harrowing is the fact that 20 million people in that group live with what is known as “high-impact” chronic pain; this type of hindrance can prevent participation in social and work activities, and significantly reduce one’s overall quality of life. Thankfully, the business ... [Read More]
Surgeon General Issues an Advisory on Naloxone to Address the Opioid Epidemic
Naloxone is a drug used to counter the effects that opioids have on the body. Fast-acting and effective, naloxone can temporarily reverse or halt an overdose. When administered to a person who is overdosing on opioids, naloxone can restore normal breathing if it has stopped or become slow and labored. There have been many documented cases where it has saved the lives of people who overdose. For the first time since 2005, the Surgeon General issued an advisory regarding opioid abuse and ... [Read More]
