Dealing with severe pain can be a miserable aspect of recovering from serious sports injuries. It is a type of pain that is often treated using opioid medications. Opioids are incredibly powerful and effective at reducing pain, but also come with a very real risk of addiction and overdose.
For this reason, many athletes are now searching for safe and effective non-opioid treatments for severe sports injury pain. And fortunately, there are several options out there. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen are all standard non-opioid pain relievers that can be effective for severe pain. However, there are also other means of treating serious pain, such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or supplementing CBD and THC.
Such non-opioid treatments come with far fewer risks of addiction and overdose, making them a much safer option for treating severe pain. On top of that, they can also be just as effective at reducing pain levels as opioids, making them a convenient and viable option for those in need. Read on to learn more about the best non-opioid treatments for serious sports injury pain!
Prescription and Non-Prescription Medications
There are quite a few prescription and non-prescription medications that can be used to treat severe post-injury pain. The most common include Motrin, Tylenol, and Aleve. These medications work by reducing inflammation and the number of pain signals sent to the brain. In that matter, they are as effective as opioid-based painkillers, such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. The downside is that they tend to be less effective for treating more chronic forms of pain.
CBD or THC
CBD and THC are two of the most well-known and studied cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. CBD is known for its ability to relieve pain and inflammation without causing the psychoactive effects associated with THC. It can be administered in a variety of different ways, including orally, through inhalation, or even in the form of a CBD pain relief stick. THC, on the other hand, is a prescription-only medication in the majority of states. While it is pretty effective for treating severe chronic pain, it does come with psychoactive effects. Keep that in mind before you start using it.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy and exercise can be incredibly effective at reducing pain and inflammation. These activities help to stretch and strengthen the muscles and joints, which can reduce pain and improve mobility.
Exercise, on the other hand, can be a great way to improve overall health, that is, unless the condition makes it painful to do so. In this case, it is best to consult with a doctor before starting any new exercise routine and, only after that, develop an appropriate plan with the help of a certified physical therapist.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of different health conditions. It involves the placement of thin needles at specific points on the body. This is thought to help relieve pain by stimulating the release of endorphins and other natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Acupuncture has been shown to be effective for treating a number of different types of pain, such as back pain, headaches, and arthritis. It can also be used to help manage the pain associated with sports injuries.
Supplements
Although they most probably will not treat the pain directly, there are a variety of different supplements that can be effective at reducing inflammation associated with serious injuries. These include omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, glucosamine, and many others.
The effects of each supplement are different and can vary depending on the individual. In addition, you might have to wait for a long time before you feel the effects of a given supplement. Sometimes, it can take it up to four months to kick in, so it is important to be patient and consistent with taking them.
The best way to find out if a particular supplement might be helpful is to talk to a doctor or pharmacist. It is also important to consult with a doctor before taking any new supplements, as they can interact with other medications.
Spinal Cord Stimulation
This is a treatment that is most often used for treating pain related to nerve damage. It involves the placement of a small device similar to a pacemaker near the spinal cord. This device sends out electrical impulses, which can help to block pain signals from reaching the brain.
Spinal cord stimulation is a relatively new treatment. However, it shows promise in treating a variety of different types of conditions without using long-lasting drug treatment. The only downside is that it requires surgery to implant the device, which may not be an option for everyone.
Final Thoughts
There are many different non-opioid treatments for severe post-injury pain. These include over-the-counter and prescription medications, physical therapy, acupuncture, supplements, an, in the more severe cases, spinal cord stimulation. Each of these treatments comes with its own set of risks and benefits, all of which tend to be much less severe than the ones associated with opioids.
If none of the options listed above seem right for you, consult with a medical professional and ask them about other options that are available to you. With their advice, you should be able to find a non-opioid treatment that suits your needs soon enough. Good luck!
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