The use of Opioids in pain management and why it is NOT a good idea


Pain Management
Opioids in Pain Management

Pain is considered chronic if it continues past the typical healing time of approximately three months. ‘Chronic’ simply means ongoing and doesn’t tell us much about the severity or quality of the pain. The terms chronic pain and persistent pain are frequently used interchangeably.

Most people don’t know much about chronic pain because we are taught that pain subsides when tissues heal after an injury or illness.

Sometimes, it is not possible for doctors to pinpoint the cause of the pain. It can be frustrating not to have a diagnosis, especially when the pain is encroaching on your quality of life. That is why physicians often use opioids as their first strategy in pain management – they work quickly regardless of the source.

Unfortunately, research on the effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain management proves that their use often results in unwanted side effects. Those include:

  • tolerance
  • physical dependence
  • increased sensitivity to pain
  • constipation
  • nausea, vomiting, dry mouth
  • confusion
  • depression
  • lowered testosterone levels
  • itching, sweating

Furthermore, according to CDC director Thomas Frieden, in 2016, more than 42,000 people in the United States died from an opioid overdose, including more than 17,000 whose deaths were attributed to prescription opioid overdoses. Deaths caused by overdose of prescription opioids have quadrupled over the past 15 years.

pain management miami

Non-opioid options for safer and more effective treatment

At GenLife Regenerative Medicine, we believe that when patients experience pain, non-opioid options are safer, more effective, and longer lasting. The CDC, NQF, and other major health agencies and organizations all have affirmed that nonpharmacological and non-opioid therapy can be productive in managing long-lasting pain. According to their research, it’s time for the health care system to look beyond opioids to options that treat and combat chronic pain by addressing its source(s)

With this philosophy in mind, the best pain management doctor in Miami, Dr. Mahl, offers a multitude of options alternative to opioids, with the safety and well-being of his patients in mind. These effective options include: IROM – Interventional Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Therapy, Prolotherapy, Prolozone, PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma), Orthobiologics and Eye Stem Cell Treatments.

These therapies are effective with many kinds of pain, including (but not limited to):

Neck Pain

Lower Back (Lumbar)

Upper Back (Thoracic)

Knee Pain

Knee Osteoarthritis

Hip Pain

Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Shoulder Pain

Elbow Pain

Ankle Pain

Heel Pain (Plantar Fasciitis)

Wrist, Hand, Finger & Thumb Pain

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Referred Pain

Watch one of our patient’s testimonies after lumbar prolotherapy treatment:

https://youtu.be/658ioLUy6r8

Fix your chronic pain with regenerative medicine sports injury treatment. Call us today to book your appointment: (305) 332-7234.

Learn more about the best pain management doctor in Miami, FL here.

The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.