A lot of people who suffer from chronic pain are constantly on the lookout for the best chronic pain treatment options. One of the reasons is that it is really difficult to live a life that is saddled with chronic pain. It can also be related to so many different things that it is difficult for a physician to choose from the various chronic pain treatment options. Nevertheless, everybody has a right to have a good quality of life, which means that it should be free from chronic pain, as much as possible.

Identifying the Cause of Chronic Pain:

One of the most difficult is to identify the cause of the pain. This is because there are often various causal agents at play. Usually, physicians will consider this to be related to anxiety or depression, and quite often, they are right. Sometimes, however, there is a different underlying cause and it can be hard to pinpoint it. Without a proper diagnostic, most chronic pain treatment options aren’t available either. This is why so many people continue to suffer in silence, until they experience an episode that is too severe too manage. An added worry is that physicians, hospitals, and clinics keep records, and it is possible that certain patients may be identified as people exhibiting drug-seeking behavior, which is a label nobody wants to have.

Chronic Pain Treatment with Prescription Drugs:

At the same time, treatment with prescription drugs can only be allowed under specific circumstances. These drugs are addictive opioids, and it is no secret that the country is in the grips of an opioid addiction epidemic. Physicians must be careful about what they prescribe not just for their own protection, but for that of the patient as well.

Some of the most commonly prescribed drugs for chronic pain are codeine, methadone, fentanyl, Dilaudid, morphine, Demerol, Percocet, and Oxycontin. All of those carry an addiction risk, with the possibility of an overdose that could be fatal. It is understandable, therefore, that physicians are reluctant to prescribe them.

On the other hand, it is also true that some 77 million people in this country suffer from chronic pain and the majority are not receiving the appropriate treatment. If you are one of them, then you may want to consider joining an advocacy group. Some common concerns have been raised by these groups, including:

– The difficulty of finding a physician willing to treat chronic pain
– The dismissive nature of many physicians, believing chronic pain to be of a psychological nature
– The reluctance of physicians to prescribe pain medication, although this is for obvious reasons
– The lack of alternative treatment options

It is hoped that, if enough people add their voice, the need to treat chronic pain will be better recognized by physicians, health care providers, and health insurance companies alike. In so doing, this may mean that better diagnostics tests will be developed, and also that more alternative chronic pain treatment options become available. People will always choose to avoid narcotic painkillers if they are offered a different form of treatment.