OPIOIDS DON’T NEED TO BE THE ANSWER FOR ARTHRITIS PAIN RELIEF

FIND RELIEF FOR YOUR JOINT PAIN THE NATURAL WAY!

Arthritis is a general term that actually encompasses hundreds of different diseases. Whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other type of arthritis, two of the primary symptoms are inflammation and joint pain. Whatever type of arthritis you suffer from, you’re likely struggling to overcome varying degrees of pain. If you are taking opioids for arthritis pain, we’re here to let you know that there is a better option. Our innovative care strategies at Mayfield Physical Therapy will help you find quick relief.

If you’ve ever injured your back in a car crash, high-impact sports injury, or work-related accident, you know just debilitating chronic back pain can be. As awful as you might feel though, typically this kind of pain is acute and goes away on its own at some point. Chronic back pain is different because it hangs on long after an acute injury or another ailment occurs.

Technically, back pain is categorized as chronic if it continues for at least 3 months — and in many cases, chronic back pain can haunt a person for years. This is especially true if your back pain stems from an irreversible or progressive condition. If you’re suffering from unexplained back pain, it’s a good idea to get checked out by a medical professional.

COMMON CAUSES OF CHRONIC BACK PAIN

Before anything can be done to soothe your pain, the reason for it needs to be determined. Chronic back pain can be caused by many underlying issues, from an acute injury that failed to heal correctly to chronic health problems such as:

• Physical or postural imbalances that lead to chronic muscle strain and soreness
• Muscle knots associated with fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, and other chronic problems
• Herniated discs that compress spinal nerve tissue
• Excess weight from obesity or pregnancy
• Congenital deformities such as scoliosis
• Chronic muscle or connective strain due to stress, overuse, or repetitive motion
• Arthritis in the facet joints that mobilize your spinal column
• Degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the spinal discs bulge and flatten

Chronic back pain doesn’t always limit itself to your back. Conditions that involve pinched nerve roots may send pain and other odd sensations into your upper or lower extremities.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT OPIOIDS?

Opioids are powerful narcotics that work to cause numb relief. They have the ability to bind to the brain’s opioid receptors and to limit the messages of pain sent to the brain. Both oxycodone and morphine are considered to be opioids.



While opioid drugs may be beneficial when carefully used over a short period of time, they are not without serious drawbacks. They are highly addictive and they often interact with other drugs. Approximately 42,000 deaths related to opioid overdoses occurred in 2016.

If you are currently taking some type of opioid for your arthritis pain, it is important to know that there is a safer alternative that can reduce and even eliminate pain.

IS ARTHRITIS IMPACTING YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE?

If you’re struggling with osteoarthritis, you’re likely to experience pain, stiffness, and limited flexibility. Rheumatoid arthritis may cause similar symptoms and may affect organs in the body.

Psoriatic arthritis and gout are also types of arthritis that can cause varying levels of pain, inflammation, and mobility. Arthritis pain may affect even the simplest of daily activities.



Washing, cooking, and walking up and down the stairs can prove difficult with any of these types of arthritis. The severity of the pain may also change on a daily basis. Because of this, it can become too easy to rely on powerful pain medications to cope with arthritis pain.

GET STARTED TODAY

Even if you are already taking opioids, an individualized physical therapy program may help you reduce the amount of medication you are taking.

To find out how you can reduce arthritis pain, contact us or visit us in Mayfield Heights or Euclid, OH to set up an appointment with a physical therapist!