Statistics on the prevalence of opioid abuse are still extremely alarming and have been ever since 2017 when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a public emergency. Of the 10 million people estimated to abuse opioids every year, nearly 50,000 are from opioid overdoses. Among all overdose deaths, opioids were a factor in at least 72% of them, and the actual figure may be as high as 80%.
While these are frightening statistics, it should be recognized that there are opioid-sparing ways to treat pain. And in this blog post, we’ll introduce you to some of the latest advances in pain management. We’ll also discuss the potential benefits of these treatments and how they can help you reduce your dependence on opioids. So read on to learn more about the latest advances in opioid-sparing pain relief!
Alternatives to opioids
There are quite a few alternatives to opioids now available, so it should be possible to significantly cut down on the widespread use of opioid prescriptions. In the wake of recent surgery or severe injury, the resulting pain can effectively be managed by one or more of the following options. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are available over the counter and have no addictive element to them, so they can be taken as needed when pain flares up. Physical therapy is also sometimes effective, and chiropractic treatment can provide relief in quite a few situations where bones are misaligned, or when pressure is being exerted on nerves around the spinal column.
In some cases, corticosteroid injections have proven to be effective in managing chronic pain, and the effects generally last a while. Some people have overcome chronic pain through a combination of massage, meditation, and yoga because it encourages you to focus on inner strength rather than on external discomfort.
However, what may be the very best alternative to opioids is something relatively new in medicine – laser therapy treatment. Laser therapy treatment has some fantastic advantages that none of the other options can claim, starting with the fact that it’s non-invasive, it’s non-addictive, and it can be used on almost any location in the body.
Best of all, laser therapy does not just manage pain – it accomplishes a cure in many cases. Since it stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, it can cause new tissue to be created in the affected area, it reduces inflammation, and it speeds additional oxygen and nutrients to the affected area. The most highly advanced laser system in use today is the MLS M8 Robotic Laser system. Approved by the FDA for use in treating chronic pain and inflammation, the MLS M8 laser is available exclusively at OrthoLazer Laser Therapy Centers around the country.
Choosing an option
Any of the options described above are infinitely preferable to becoming involved with an addictive drug that has the potential of ruining or even ending your life. Thousands of people have been alerted to the fact that laser therapy offers a much better prospect of recovery from chronic pain and are now choosing this path. If you are an orthopedic surgeon who would like to provide your patients with highly effective pain relief without the use of opioids, we invite you to visit our website to learn more about laser therapy.
OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers offer patients and their doctors an innovative and effective alternative pain management option to treat acute and chronic orthopedic conditions. Founded by Dr. Scott Sigman – the original opioid-sparing surgeon – our centers further his mission of providing his patients with non-operative and non-opioid treatment options. If you’d like more information about OrthoLazer, please visit our website at ortholazer.com.
