Table of Contents
Root Causes of Substance Abuse
For many people battling substance abuse, particularly prescription pain medications and opioids, an injury or chronic pain is what started it all. A doctor may have prescribed them Hydrocodone or OxyContin to manage the pain. Eventually, they may have abused those drugs and when they could no longer access prescription medications they may escalate to illicit opioids.
Substance abuse introduces an entirely new set of problems while failing to address the initial problem, which was the pain and discomfort caused by the injury. Physical therapy can provide drug-free pain management. This is beneficial because it eliminates the initial cause of the addiction, which can help decrease the odds of relapse in the future.
Side Effects of Addiction
Addiction can cause numerous health problems. In some instances, people may experience a decline in physical health or sustain injuries due to their addiction. The resulting pain can cause an individual to fall deeper into their addiction.
Advantages of Physical Therapy During drug detox
Physical therapy allows an individual to focus on their health and recovery free of pain and the distraction this discomfort can bring. Detox is a stressful time. As stress mounts, it can be difficult for people to focus on their treatment and health. Removing this stress best positions an individual to progress through their treatment.
Managing pain without the use of opioids can provide a variety of benefits, including:
- Reduction of pain and discomfort
- Improved movement and mobility
- Avoiding surgery and recovery
- Prevention of future injuries
Avoiding surgery is a major benefit for an individual struggling with addiction. Prescription painkillers are often used during the recovery process. Avoiding surgery, when possible, enables the individual to avoid a situation with a high potential for relapse. However, if surgery is necessary then a patient should seek treatment as living with pain is also a high-risk circumstance.
Learning to Live Pain-Free
Effective recovery requires a comprehensive approach to care. Detox is the beginning of the journey to recovery and sobriety. Implementing physical therapy early in the recovery process helps patients learn how to safely and effectively manage their pain and care for their bodies. Alleviating pain also enables an individual to focus on their health and their treatment without any unnecessary distractions.
FAQ
Is recreational therapy the same as physical therapy?