16 million adults (8% of all adults) experience chronic back pain in the United States. Chronic back pain can be excruciating, causing many individuals to become limited in their daily activities. Because of this, many individuals go to their doctors looking for a solution. Oftentimes, they are given a prescription for narcotic pain medication. While these medications certainly mask the symptoms of their back pain, they may cause additional issues down the line.
Narcotic pain medications are highly addictive and habit-forming. While struggling with back pain is not the answer, utilizing pain pills such as hydrocodone or morphine could lead to addiction, stomach pain, ulcers, and even kidney or liver damage. So, if pain pills are not the answer to relieving chronic back pain, what is?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a naturally-derived medication that has been found to relieve various forms of pain – including back pain. Let’s take a look at what pain pills are, pain pill addiction, and why CBD is a better solution for back pain.
When it comes to treating back pain with pain pills, there are a variety of options. Typically, individuals are given narcotic pain pills or muscle relaxants for chronic back pain. Both types of pain medications are habit-forming.
Narcotic pain relievers are only intended to be prescribed for short periods. However, individuals with chronic back pain may be given long-term prescriptions for narcotic pain killers. This often leads to dependency and pain pill addiction.
Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed for chronic back pain. These medications are highly addictive and abused commonly. Typically, individuals take muscle relaxants with over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen. The combination of these medications is very hard on the liver and kidneys, sometimes leading to permanent damage.
While these medications are effective in masking the symptoms of chronic back pain, there are many risks associated with their long-term use.
Using pain pills for back pain may be attractive, as chronic back pain can limit one’s ability to perform daily tasks. However, there are many risks to be aware of. From psychological dependency and pain pill addiction to stomach ulcers and kidney damage, the long-term use of pain pills is no joke.
Pain pill addiction is a condition that requires professional drug detox for individuals to safely recover. Any individual who is struggling with opioid pain pill addiction should seek help from a medical drug detox immediately. Consult with a recovery guide to find out whether a drug detox program is right for you.
Another adverse effect of utilizing opioid pain killers for back pain is the risk of increased pain over time. While this phenomenon is not well understood, studies have found that utilizing opioids for pain relief on a long-term basis may lead to a worsening of symptoms.
CBD is a type of cannabinoid found in marijuana plants. While marijuana is a habit-forming substance, CBD does not contain the chemical compound (THC) that creates the “high” feeling that users crave. Because of this, CBD is a non-habit-forming medication.
Many individuals have begun using CBD oil and lotion for pain relief. Individuals have found CBD to be effective in managing many different forms of pain, including pain from cancer and fibromyalgia. Due to this discovery, many chronic pain patients replaced their narcotic pain pill prescriptions for CBD oils.
In fact, Studies have found that CBD oil reduces nerve-related and inflammatory pain in animals. Additionally, CBD has been found effective in the treatment of opioid addiction, leading CBD to be used as a safe alternative to opioids. This directly supports claims of CBD for back pain being a safer and healthier option than narcotic pain pills.
If you or a loved one struggles with chronic back pain, you may be taking narcotic medications to help with your pain. As a result, you might be dependent on this medication. If you or your loved one have experienced symptoms of opioid withdrawal when you do not take your back pain medication, medical drug detox may be necessary. These programs are equipped to provide you with a safer alternative treatment to your chronic back pain, like CBD oils.
Michael Herbert, The Recovery Guide, has more than 30 years of experience working closely with individuals and families dealing with addiction and recovery issues. He is a seasoned Coach and can help you and your family establish long-term goals and access the tools you need for continued abstinence and recovery for the entire family. Get in touch with Michael today at 561-221-7677 to schedule an appointment.
