In mainstream medicine today, OxyContin is the drug of choice for long term pain relief. Since OxyContin was introduced into the market, in 1996, it has been controversial. It is commonly agreed that opioid drugs provide effective masking of medium to high level pain, but with side effects that include unintended opioid addiction, respiratory depression, and mood swings.
The biggest factor that causes people to remain on a course of opioid drugs, or to seek out cannabis, is a need for pain relief. When a person has such an advanced state of cancer, or degenerative disease in their body, that they are considered to be terminal, in pain and in palliative care, opioid drugs will provide a humane, short term solution for effective pain relief.
However, increasingly, natural pain relief methods are being used that allow people to remain in control, remain lucid and face death with dignity.
Drug use is to be considered a somewhat clumsy and ineffective , archaic method of dealing with the issue of pain, compared with ancient and newly emerging natural pain treatment methods.
The vast majority of people who are prescribed oxycodone and similar painkillers on routine basis, by their doctor would if given the option, be able to make use of alternative methods of pain relief. For many years, in medical school, pain treatment education has been limited to drug use and opioids for treatment resistant pain. Doctors who have been asked if there are effective drug free methods of relieving, and overcoming pain generally have no training, lack information and tend to be of the opinion that we are lucky to have narcotics because there is no effective alternative.
If you are looking for a single effective treatment, something like a magic bullet, for complete pain relief then very likely you will not be aware of the complexity of the experience of pain.
There is a strong relationship between the mind and expectations when it comes to finding a pain relief option that does not rely on the knockout approach of drugs.
People are often surprised to find that many alternative treatments for pain focus upon increased activity and mobilization for the pain affected area, as opposed to drug relief and rest.
Many people are wary, lack trust in alternative procedures for anything connected with their health. Drug use and medical treatment is our choice and preference more by a process of social conditioning than as a result of having made that decision from an informed basis.
Take for example the practice of musculo-skeletal therapy (MST), a one on one treatment that gently mobilizes tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves in places of injury and their alignment to bones. Much pain relief, more freedom of movement, and healing can occur with MST, that can put an end to drug dependence.
MST can help with joint mobility, release sites of pain, and assist with fibromyalgia. Much of our pain is caused by localized blockages of free movement and high levels of tension and stress in our mind that is channeled into the body, by way of response and release. Our posture is often poor, and the way that we habitually position our body can be a mirror of our unhappiness, attitude and approach to dealing with life.
Using any form of natural therapy tends to lead a person into further analysis of the causes of the discomfort for which they are seeking treatment. Therapies that use massage, manipulation and mobilization techniques naturally tend to make people focus upon their lifestyle and their habits – issues about diet, exercise, sleep and how every day stress is dealt with are soon seen as being related to and ultimately to be a part of any natural therapy aimed at restoring good health to the body, and relaxation to the mind.
It is often a lack of positive connection, and a tendency towards depressed or anxious introversion that causes us to become “immersed” in our pain, and unable to break free of it.
It is significant that pain drugs today are in some cases antidepressants. Drugs that provide an uplifted “mood” in the chronically depressed and anxious, are also good pain relievers, clinical tests have shown.
Nerves supported by good nutrition and adequate rest are less prone to excitability and the resultant experience of irritability and pain. Any single natural therapy will tend to lead to a desire to improve other aspects of health. It is proven still to be true that laughter is the best medicine, with a positive approach to life.
Achievement of positive health and vitality comes with professional and comprehensive help to remedy all areas of deficiency in the mind and body. Good health is not and never was a matter of simply taking a pill to remove unwanted symptoms. Drugs treat symptoms, natural therapies examine and attend to causes, and that is the essential difference.
People with any kind of disorder, including chronic pain, will not get beyond the pain until they are prepared to deal with causation, instead of being content to have limited drug relief.
Many people think that it is high time that healthcare came out of the dark age of drug medication to enjoy the benefits of life enhancing, natural treatments that promote fitness, vitality and freedom from pain, and freedom from the toxicity of prescription drugs.
People who have had the misfortune to become addicted to prescription drugs, or to substances generally will find that a full range of complementary natural therapies and treatment options is already practised at comprehensive alcohol and drug addiction recovery centers. Effective pain relief is provided as part of the drug withdrawal and detox programs conducted by comprehensive rehab centers. Pain relief techniques that overcome pain in drug withdrawal can easily be utilized for other types of pain.
Rather than face a lifetime of avoidable pain or addiction, people are encouraged to explore and examine the natural alternatives for healing and complete drug free addiction recovery.