Pain management is a massive hurdle within the medical community. Acute and chronic pain affects over 100 million adults annually. However, many patients still suffer inadequate pain control despite the rapid rise of opioid misuse, abuse, and overdose deaths. In addition, the patients coming into your practice looking for alternative treatment will probably be on a pain management regimen already. So how do you handle patients on a conventional pain management program?
In 1968, pain management pioneer and nurse, Margo McCaffery, defined pain as “whatever the experiencing person says it is, existing whenever and wherever the person says it does”. Since pain is subjective and unique to the individual, one must always approach pain with patient-centered care. These individuals do not like how they feel taking pharmaceuticals and opioids. However, they may also have a good deal of anxiety about coming off their pain management program and possibly returning to a debilitating life of pain.
As professionals in the medical field, it is more crucial than ever before to be responsible with our prescriptions when it comes to pain management. The National Institute of Drug Abuse released a study that found, “Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady in 2018 with 46,802 deaths. This was followed by a significant increase through 2020 to 68,630 overdose deaths.” A patient-centered approach, with roots in empathy and compassion, can be a great tool against the opioid epidemic in this country. Treating the people who come in for pain management as individuals can help stop them from becoming a number in the next study.
Education is also an incredibly powerful tool when it comes to pain management for your patients. According to a report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, “Nearly half of all American adults…. have difficulty understanding and using health information, and there is a higher rate of hospitalization and use of emergency services among patients with limited health literacy.” Just like any other diagnosis, it is our duty to provide patients with the resources and tools that they need to place decisions related to their health in their own hands. Consider providing pamphlets or simply open the floor to the patient for any questions they may have regarding the pain management programs available to them.
Harper Restoration System we practice Pain Elimination not pain management! If you are ready to change your paradigm let HRS train you in safe, easy, affordable, highly effective techniques that will often produce life changing results right before your eyes! Not only do we offer in-person training, but we also offer support virtually through a library subscription, in addition to virtual consultations. If your practice finds it challenging to transition patients on conventional pain management programs, reach out to us, and we can help!
We look forward to supporting you either in person, on the phone, or on the web. Contact us at info@harperozone.com or (208) 827-6359 and we promise to get right back to you.
