Pain Management

The largest consumer good in the world

Narcotics and analgesics are not the best or the only way to manage pain. However, narcotic consumption is exponentially growing in the United States. The US consumes more narcotics than any other county in the world, amounting to roughly 99% of the narcotic supply. This alarming statistic reflects the fact that overdose is the leading cause of death for young adults aged between 25 and 45. Most of these users are not buying narcotics on the street, but rather obtaining them from family, friends, or physicians.

How can we fix it?

Recent studies show that higher doses of narcotics and analgesic medications do not necessarily correlate with pain relief. Nevertheless, physicians are still caught between the need to help control pain and the risk of over-prescribing narcotics.

More than ever, physicians are having to catch on to red flags for narcotic users, such as inordinate quantities, inconsistent intervals, no physical exam, use of street slang, and no logical relationship to the underlying condition. Additionally, it is imperative that physicians document narcotic abuse in chart notes. In Idaho, our physicians have access to the Board of Pharmacy reporting tool. With this tool, physicians can see a complete report on a patient’s medication history. Our physicians use this tool frequently before prescribing pain medications.

Above all, physicians want patients to have adequate pain relief. For this reason, they prescribe pain medications in the post-operative period. To protect patients and their families, our providers have strict medication guidelines. It is much harder to control pain after surgery when someone is taking narcotics before surgery because they can develop a tolerance. If patients continue to experience pain after the post-operative period, we will consider a referral to a pain management specialist.

Doing your part

Patients can use various tactics to assist with pain relief aside from taking pain medications. Patients must maintain a positive attitude, and they can also engage in relaxation and distraction techniques to calm anxiety. Additionally, patients should continue to combine daily exercises with physical therapy appointments. Furthermore, elevating the extremity, in cases where these parts of the body have sustained an injury, can help decrease discomfort and swelling.

Most of the information for this blog was from Dr. Travis J. Kemp’s website.