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Written by Dr. Josh Suderman
The term “narcotic” comes from the Greek word for “stupor” and originally referred to a variety of substances that dulled the senses and relieved pain. Today, it commonly refers to an opioid medication which is a class of narcotic that can cause side effects such as drowsiness and is used to manage pain. As the title of this blog indicates, though, there are many other ways to manage pain other than the use of a narcotic. In fact, the physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician’s assistants at the Javery Pain Institute specialize in coordinating treatment plans utilizing procedures, nonnarcotic medications, and the skills of other clinical providers to manage chronic pain in multiple ways.
We commonly utilize procedures to deliver medications directly at the source of a problem, for instance in the spine or a joint, to treat pain arising from conditions such as arthritis. These procedures avoid the potential side effects of narcotics and can be much more effective since they deliver a treatment directly at the source of pain. We also work with other specialists, such as physical therapists and pain psychologists to provide multiple different angles for the management of pain not only to avoid narcotics but to get the best results for each patient.
We know that providing as many resources as possible can often be very beneficial for pain management compared to simply relying on a single treatment such as a narcotic to manage pain. Some of these treatments provide skills that can be used on a day-to-day basis by the patient to manage their pain without relying on a daily medication such as a narcotic. In the setting of this country’s opioid epidemic, our clinic strives to manage pain effectively and safely not only for each individual patient but for the community since the over-prescription of narcotics and opioids presents a very real danger to our country currently.
To be clear, sometimes narcotics can be helpful for pain management, but we believe they are best utilized in the setting of a treatment plan that involves multiple types of treatment. If the patient desires to manage their pain without the use of narcotics, we certainly appreciate the opportunity to do so since there are many effective ways to manage pain without narcotics.
At the Javery Pain Institute, we are confident we can develop a treatment plan to help manage your pain, improve your function, and get your life back utilizing a variety of different treatments that can be tailored to your specific views and needs. We look forward to meeting you in the very near future!
