Opioids are commonly used for getting relief from discomfort, especially if you suffer from chronic pain or bone disorders like arthritis. However, overdose and addiction are prevalent in these cases as well. This is the reason patients must follow the advice of their orthopedic surgeons or respective specialists. Here are some things that you can do in order to avoid an overdose of opioids.

Don’t Use Over The Prescribed Amount

A very common practice that can lead to opioid addiction or overdose is the fact that people will use more than the prescribed amount by the doctor. This is not a good idea at all because you’re putting your body in jeopardy by doing this. Doctors know how much opioids you need and how much of a dosage is enough to alleviate the pain for the time being, so it’s ironic to increase the dose by yourself, to begin with.

Dealing with opioids is no joke and you need to be extremely careful when taking such strong medication. Always consult your doctor first whether it’s about increasing or decreasing the dose of opioids because there is a systematic way in which opioids are reduced while managing the pain in the right way and giving your body time to recuperate.

Make A Routine

If you’re someone who needs medication to deal with chronic pain while eliminating the chance of overdosing or getting addicted to opioids, then setting a routine is a must. There will be times during the day when you don’t need medication and then there will be times when you absolutely need an opioid dose to get through the painful episode.

You should gauge these times and make a routine in which you can take these medications and go about your day without affecting the routine, and as for other times, you can resort to natural ways to alleviate slight pain that doesn’t necessarily need an opioid for management.

Lay Off Slowly

Opioids can be highly addictive and once you get used to consuming them, for pain management, laying off can be a nightmare and your body will definitely retort in a painful way. This is why it’s necessary to train your mind and body to slowly get used to dealing with pain without taking medication.

This involves a bit of mental training and a couple of pain threshold exercises, but you’ll eventually get there, and laying off from opioids will be easier for you because you’re not addicted.

Use Natural Alternatives

Medicine may seem pretty effective, but it has hidden side effects that can take a toll on the body and increase resistance to drugs. This is why you should never make it a habit to consume pain relief medications, like opioids, for your pain management.

There are different ways by which one can find relief from chronic pain and they’re very easy to adopt. Here are some proven methods that will help with pain management, so that you don’t rely on strong medicines like opioids on a regular basis.

Hot And Cold Compress

This is one of the oldest yet effective treatments for pain management. Back in the day, when there were no medicines for relief, people would rely on temperature and the hotness and coldness of certain things to numb the pain and eventually, treat it.

If you’re feeling pain somewhere, whether it’s on your back, in the knees, or somewhere in the joints, then a hot and cold compress is going to be a lifesaver. If you’re trying to limit the amount of medicine you take, especially opioids, because they’re not meant to be taken regularly, then you’ll love this pain management method.

You’ll need an ice pack and a hot water bottle for this trick to work. There are also alternate hot and cold compress packs that can be cooled in the refrigerator and warmed in the microwave. Use the hot compress first and press it firmly on the area where you’re feeling pain. After a couple of minutes, switch to the cold compress and leave it there for the same amount of time.

The alternation between the temperature is going to trick your nerves and the pain signals won’t be transmitted to the brain. It’s better to start this method of relief, as soon as you feel the pain shooting up because it’s going to diminish in a couple of alternations and you’ll feel better.

However, before this process, you must go to the specialist. For example; if you’re suffering from hip pain, you should first go to an orthopedic hip surgeon Woodbridge.

Yoga/Stretching

Exercise isn’t something that you should be afraid of, especially when you’re feeling pain. It’s something that’s going to alleviate the pain. Now, it’s not recommended that you go for a 5-mile walk or run while suffering from chronic pain. The type of exercise you choose is going to heighten or lessen the pain, so you need to make wise decisions in this regard. Yoga and light stretching are great beginner exercises to go for, if you’re feeling a bit achy and want to alleviate the tension in your body.

The main trigger of pain is the tension in your muscles and bones and yoga is the perfect way to introduce flexibility in your limbs and get rid of the pain. Find a comfortable spot and stretch your body out in a couple of poses that you can do easily.

Start slowly because your body will resist at first and you don’t want to add to the pain. Give yourself a warm-up session for 15 to 20 minutes and then you can graduate to more complex poses that focus on the painful spots. You’ll feel like a million bucks in no time and there will be no need to take opioids for pain management.

Avoid Stress-Inducing Activities

If you’re a patient with chronic pain, then you might have heard your doctor advising you to take it slow and not do anything that’s too strenuous. Well, this advice isn’t all talk. You need to be in tune with your body and listen to it when it gets too tired. You don’t want to have any unwanted tension in your body, because that can lead to a lot of pain and if it exceeds a certain limit, then you’ll have no choice but to resort to opioids and that’s not a good way to go about things.

Your main goal should be to lay off heavy medication slowly and find ways that work for you to go about your normal routine without being in pain. So, heavy weight lifting, sitting or standing for longer periods of time, and having a weird posture are things that you need to work on.

A small kick in the wrong direction can lead to an immense episode of pain and you definitely don’t want to be on the receiving end of it. This is why it’s good to listen to your body and take a breather when you need to because you can only do so much before your body starts to give in to the effects of stress.

Conclusion

Opioids work like magic for people suffering from pain and it’s their go-to choice for pain management, but care should also be taken when consuming such potent medication because the underlying issue of overdose is still a possibility. So, make sure to visit a pain management clinic Woodbridge regularly.