How Physical Therapy Can Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic

How Physical Therapy Can Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic Addiction Drug Use Opioids Print How Physical Therapy Can Help Fight the Opioid Epidemic Physical Therapy vs. Opioid Pain Medication By Brett Sears, PT facebook twitter linkedin Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 15 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy. Learn about our editorial policy Brett Sears, PT Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on August 31, 2016 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywells Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on May 28, 2019 Hero Images/Getty Images More in Addiction Drug Use Opioids Cocaine Heroin Marijuana Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery Can physical therapists  and the PT profession be a positive force to help solve our nations addiction to opiate medication? We have a huge problem in this country. It seems that over the past 20 years, we have created a society of people who feel it is their right to not feel any pain. Our solution? Hand out opioid pain  medication like it is candy. In fact, the United States consumes 99 percent of the worlds hydrocodone, the number one opioid pain medication. Doctors prescribe enough opioids each year to give five pills to every citizen. So we should all be feeling good, right? Wrong. While the number of people consuming pain medication has increased, reported pain  has not changed. Plus, there are some downsides to using opioid medication for controlling non-cancerous, musculoskeletal  pain, such as when you have a condition like a strain, fracture, or after surgery. Facts About Opioid Medication Use When OxyContin came about, a name brand  opioid pain medication was first developed by Purdue  Pharma  in the mid-1990s, it was touted as a safe way to manage pain. Doctors were told that the medicine was not habit-forming and that the side effects of using the medicine were minimal. It turns out, the opposite is true. Opiod medicines are habit-forming, and they can lead to some serious and dangerous consequences, with an increased risk of drug dependency or overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC) has listed a few  specific facts about the opioid epidemic. Understanding that negative effects of opioid medication  can help realize the benefits that physical therapists can bring to the table when managing this epidemic. Some statistics about American opioid use (and abuse) includes: From 1999 to 2013, the number of opioid medications dispensed has quadrupled.Deaths related to opioid addiction have quadrupled since 1999.Approximately two  million Americans were addicted to opioid pain medication in 2014.Opioid addiction can lead to abuse of other illicit drugs.Approximately one in four opioid users struggles with addiction.People who struggle with opioid addiction are 40 times more likely to  be addicted to heroin. So there is a  big problem with opioid medication, but  isnt it a useful and effective way to manage pain? It can be, but only under the careful supervision of your doctor. Non-musculoskeletal pain, like the kind that may occur with some cancerous tumors, may respond quite well to opioid medication, allowing the patient to function fully in their day-to-day life.  Patients with chronic pain can effectively manage their pain with opioid medicine, but this needs to be closely monitored by their doctor. There are some downsides to using a  highly-addictive opioid  pain medicine  that must be addressed. Addressing the Problem of Opioid Use In August 2016, the United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD sent a letter to physicians addressing the problem of opioid addiction and asking that all healthcare practitioners work together to combat this epidemic of opioid abuse and addiction. The letter offers a three-step plan to fighting the  epidemic: Education about the proper prescribing of opioidsScreening of patients for possible opioid use disorders and connecting those patients with the best treatmentStarting to  treat opioid abuse as a mental illness and not a moral failure The Surgeon General also has made recommendations for prescribing opioid medication. These recommendations, adapted from the CDC guidelines, list exercise and physical therapy as a mode of treatment to be considered prior to prescribing habit-forming prescription medication. How Can Physical Therapy  Help? Physical therapists have the unique opportunity to work closely with patients who are hurting. Most people show up to the physical therapy clinic because they are in pain and are not moving well. The goal for those patients is to improve mobility while decreasing pain.  Your physical therapist can assess your particular situation and give you  strategies to help manage your pain and improve your ability to move and function optimally, without the need for habit-forming  pain medication. Studies show that engaging in an active physical therapy program can help improve your pain and mobility. Your physical therapist can also show you strategies to help keep your pain away. Some different methods and treatments that your physical therapist may use include: Exercise:  Movement and exercise have been proven to be effective for most musculoskeletal conditions, and your physical therapist is a movement expert who can show you what to do. Exercise should be your main tool in decreasing pain and taking an active role in your pain treatment.Electrical stimulation and TENS:  Electrical stimulation, or E-stim, can alter the sensations that you are feeling to decrease your pain. The stimulation has little side effects, and it can be used just about anywhere.Iontophoresis:  This form of electrical stimulation can administer anti-inflammatory medication through your skin to manage your pain.Heat or cold:  Hot packs and cold packs may be used to decrease pain and alter local circulation to manage inflammation.Postural correction strategies:  Sitting with poor posture may be causing your pain, and learning strategies to change your posture may be necessary.Kinesiology taping:  Although there is limited research regarding the use of kinesiology tape, it may be used to manage your pain. (Plus, there are very few side effects to using K-tape.)Massage:  Soft tissue massage can relax muscles and muscular spasm and can help decrease pain that you are feeling. Some of these itemsâ€"like TENS, heat,  or massageâ€"are passive treatments; you do nothing while your physical therapist applies the treatment to you. Passive treatments should not be your first choice of pain relief therapy since it can cause you to become dependent on your PT to apply the treatment. They are listed above  since they are treatments that you may be exposed to while attending physical therapy for your painful condition. It is recommended that you engage in an active physical therapy rehab program to treat your musculoskeletal condition and pain. This includes exercise, which  can help you gain strength, range of motion, and functional mobility. Plus, you may just have some fun while doing while working with your physical therapist, and you may find your energy land motivation levels increase with exercise. And guess what? There are very few long  term  negative side effects to engaging in physical therapy. Your muscles may be a little sore temporarily, but the long-term benefits can be worth it. What Should You Do? If you develop  musculoskeletal pain, like neck pain or a rotator cuff strain, choose to see a physical therapist first. In many cases, you can visit a physical therapist via direct access, and you can get started on the road to recovery right away. Your  PT can assess your condition and refer you to a specialist if necessary, but many times your condition can be managed in the PT clinic. If your doctor prescribes opioid pain medication for your musculoskeletal condition, inquire about starting physical therapyâ€"a more natural treatment for painâ€"rather than taking medicine. Ask about side effects of the medicine that your doctor prescribes. Can you become addicted? What is the long-term plan for safely managing your pain?  You are in control of your healthcare, and understanding the dangers of opioid medication use and abuse can help you make the best decisions for your pain management strategy. If you are abusing opioid pain medication, seek help right now. The right healthcare professional can help you safely manage your problem and can get you on the road to recovery. Opioid pain medication has its place in medicine. It can be effective for managing chronic pain. Unfortunately, the risks of usingâ€"and potentially abusingâ€"opioid  medicine are real. You have a choice. If you develop musculoskeletal, non-cancerous related pain, choose to visit your physical therapist first. Your PT can work with you and your doctor to safely and effectively manage your pain and improve your overall functional mobility, so you can quickly return to your normal, pain-free lifestyle.