New Device Helps Ease Difficulties of Drug Withdrawl

When someone is dependent on opioids, it's difficult to stop the drug and try a new form of treatment for a number of reasons:

1) There may be a fear that a different form of treatment will not work as well as current treatment.

2) Withdrawal from opioids can be a very uncomfortable process. This can include muscle aches, restlessness, anxiety, tearing of the eyes, sweating, insomnia, abdominal issues (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping), racing heart, and hypertension. Knowing this in advance must surely be a deterrent to stopping these drugs!

3) The euphoria that some people experience when taking opioids will no longer be a part of life.

Some addiction medicine specialists use prescription drugs such as Subutex or Suboxone to treat patients who have used or abused opioids and need to stop. The problem here is that these drugs will block the withdrawal symptoms but that's all. The dependency problem is still there underneath it all. When I worked as a hospital pharmacist I remember several young pregnant women who were being treated with these drugs due to dependency. When their babies were born, guess what? The babies were born addicted.

Now we hear of a new product...a device that can be placed the behind the ear to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms. Known as the Neuro-Stim Bridge, this half dollar sized product sends electrical signals to the brain to block the pain of detox. For more information about this idea, here is a link to a story about an Indiana opiate treatment center who recently began using this therapy. At the time of the story, 37 patients used the device to successfully free themselves from opiate dependency...and more success stories are on the way!

Sources: Flickr; Indystar.com; Healthline.com

Comments

Living with Chronic pain hits the big screen!

Been to the movies lately? Jennifer Aniston is on the big screen in a recent release titled "Cake." Her character, Claire is a victim of chronic pain...she belongs to a support group, where all of the members are coming to terms with the suicide of one of their members. Of course, she also takes pain medication and addiction is another of her problems...and of course there's more! I guess I am writing this post just to bring readers' attention to the fact that Hollywood has become aware of the crisis that is chronic pain. This movie is a testament to that. People that don't have to live with this kind of pain don't fully understand the whole story. Maybe this movie will shed some light on the issues. Here is the official trailer for the movie: Sources: prweb;NorthJersey.com;YouTube

Sciatica: A common pain in the butt!

Sciatica pain results from pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve. This nerve originates in the spine and runs down through the buttocks and the back of the leg...so if you've ever literally had a pain in the butt, it is possible that sciatica is the problem. The cause of the pressure can be from a number of sources...for instance, compression in the spinal cord due to disc injury or a tumor. The sciatica pain sensation can vary widely..it can present as a numbness or tingling, dull ache, burning, and in severe cases the pain can make movement quite difficult. Over time, it is possible for sciatica to resolve on its own. If it does not, it is important to seek medical help to determine the root cause of the pain. The usual first course of remedies for sciatica include ice application to the affected area for the first 48-72 hours, followed by heat. Over the counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are also appropriate. ...

Non Drug Pain Management Ideas: Applying the 80/20 Principle

The idea for today's post comes from my husband, who has in recent years become a follower of the paleo/primal diet. Most of the time he is very strict about this diet, making sure not to eat anything taboo. On occasion, he breaks from the rigidity of his new found way of life and enjoys a few cookies, maybe a bottle of beer, or a new pasta dish. Why, you ask? He says that according to others who follow this course, there is an 80/20 rule. This means that that if you adhere to the rules 80% of the time, you can allow yourself some leeway the other 20% of the time. It is important to bring this concept to the readers of this blog for a number of reasons: 1)If you have been following this blog at all, you know there are a lot of lifestyle changes that can tremendously enhance relief from chronic pain. For a lot of people this not an easy thing to do. By opting to follow the 80/20 rule these lifestyle modifications suddenl...

Everyday pain management ideas

Search This Blog