Chronic Pain Medication Research Paper

The usage of pain medications has gone up severely over the years. It is guaranteed that some types of pain medications exist in your medicine cabinet. With a readily available supply of pain medications, it have brought up problems associated with abusing such medications that have led negligent American families into abandoning their health for comfort. Pain medications are administered in a variety of setting, from nurses at hospital beds to paramedics at vehicle collision scenes. Pain medication is a broad term as it varies from over-the-counter strength to prescription strength. Each type of medication will have different ingredients, which are paired with different side effects. Many painkillers can allow the patients to develop an addiction

Patients with chronic pain will slowly “notice that the one or two tablets no longer work as well and to obtain the same level of pain relief they need to take three of four tablets” (McAllister). When patients can no longer suppress their pain with the current dosage, they will barge into their provider’s office demanding for an addendum to their prescription. While being prescribed a stronger dose will ease their pain, it also poses an addiction problem. Their bodies will slowly depend on such painkillers when relieving any underlying pain. Once they attempt to veer off the pain medications, the excruciating pain will force them right back onto the drugs with a higher dose. Some patients have different cases, such as patients with terminal illness are suffering from chronic pain, they should be allowed to continue receiving narcotic drugs without thoughts into their future health. However, the cases with chronic pain patients are different, as “most people with chronic pain will die with chronic pain, not from it” (McAllister). Chronic pain is often not the source of death; but rather from the long-term use of narcotic painkillers that have led them to a decrease in their general health. Painkillers should not be used indefinitely, especially for those with a normal life expectancy. There are better and healthier alternatives as opposed to taking pain medications. A great example is aquatic therapy, it allows patients to be in a “gravity-reduces environment,” (White) and thus greatly reduce the weight off of their joints and spine. Natural methods used to relieve pain are also non-habit forming, and this will not cause any long term problems are otherwise associated with pain medications. There are many other excellent alternatives, and providers should look into