Comprehensive Pain Management Programs at Hawaii Island Recovery

Chronic pain can be difficult to address, affecting your daily quality of life, behaviors, mental health, and more. This kind of chronic pain lasts for more than three months and typically longer than would otherwise be expected. However, this pain can come and go throughout this time, with some days feeling worse than others. The intensity and frequency of chronic pain can also make coping with it difficult, potentially affecting daily routines, overall health, and behaviors and impacting both personal and professional life.

Chronic pain can also have many sources, from past injury and medical diagnoses to even being tied to substance use disorder (SUD). Having a comprehensive pain management program during your addiction recovery journey can be paramount to provide the most comfort and personalized support possible while addressing your sources of pain and how they impact your daily life, mental health, physical health, and relationship with your sobriety. 

People experience pain for a variety of reasons. For some, a past injury can still bring discomfort and pain, with even past broken bones that have since healed still aching on rainy days. A past traumatic injury can also have lasting pain and emotional scars, with daily chronic pain serving as a reminder of these traumatic experiences. Other health conditions can also lead to lasting chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, and more, all bringing pain that can impact your health.

These sources of pain, as well as many more, can also be directly associated with addiction in a variety of ways. For some, past injury or chronic pain can directly lead to the use of drugs or alcohol, with the use of these substances being an attempted coping mechanism for addressing this pain. From self-medicating with alcohol to prescription opioids leading to opioid use disorder to manage pain in daily life, the use of these substances can be common to address this intense, persistent pain, either under a medical prescription or not.

For others, the use of addictive substances itself can lead to pain in daily life, with the use of drugs and alcohol damaging the body. Compromised physical health can lead to an increased sensitivity to pain, such as due to hyperalgesia from prolonged opioid use. Substance abuse can also lead to nerve damage, which can bring chronic pain and impact daily quality of life. Poor diet and health can also bring pain and discomfort, with addictive substances making it more difficult to heal from injury or exposing you to more risky situations, such as infections from injection sites if using drugs intravenously. 

Whether substance abuse is developed as a result of chronic pain or chronic pain informed by the use of drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism, these challenges can be intimately intertwined, with persistent pain being a triggering event to engage with these dangerous substances. Addressing these challenges in tandem is paramount for effective healing both from addiction and for exploring the necessary medical care to address pain in your daily life. 

Substance abuse can bring a myriad of dangerous health effects. These physical conditions can bring additional challenges to overcoming addiction and necessitate a professional approach to detox and addiction treatment, with a dedicated medical detox program and comprehensive care being necessary for effective, sustainable healing. Some of the common physical conditions caused by substance abuse include:

However, substance abuse can also lead to unhealthy physical conditions and chronic pain in other ways. Poor diet and dehydration as a result of substance use can make it difficult to heal from injury and lead to aches. Substance abuse can also lead to a weakened immune system, making it difficult to stave off infections or other physical health challenges. Lastly, persistent use of addictive substances can lead to inflammation throughout the body, worsening the effects of challenges like arthritis. This is possible in those turning to addictive substances to address feelings of pain, counterproductive worsening their symptoms through prolonged substance use. 

Chronic pain can also lead to new challenges, including cognitive function and nerve damage. Neuropathy is common in those living with addiction, leading to nerve damage, pain, and even numbness in limbs that can affect daily life. However, the effects on cognitive function can be equally as difficult to navigate. Chronic pain can make it difficult to focus on other tasks and can lead to an array of other cognitive challenges, including:

Chronic pain can also present as difficulty tending to complex tasks or compromised executive function. Coupled with the effects of addiction, such as memory impairment, the effects of substance use and chronic pain can have lasting effects on your cognitive health, with professional treatment being instrumental in navigating these challenges and adopting new strategies for a healthy daily life. 

Effective pain management, both in daily life and throughout recovery, is crucial for an improved quality of life. As chronic pain can continue to impact daily life and wellness, effective pain management can empower you to make the most of each day, either in recovery or working towards personal and professional goals. Improved overall health, including mental and emotional health, is common as you explore new levels of comfort or work past pain as a reminder of past injury or trauma. 

However, pain management can also empower you to set new goals and structure your days to benefit you most. The ability to wholly engage in hobbies and self-care can help you engage in fulfilling tasks and accomplishments. Increased physical health and mobility can also increase energy levels, helping you attend social functions or spend time with friends, family, supports, and loved ones without being distracted by chronic pain. 

Persistent chronic pain can also lead to a lot of frustration and irritation that can affect relationships. Effective pain management can help alleviate these emotional stresses and better engage with loved ones, improving these relationships and avoiding unnecessary conflict, blame, or turmoil. Pain management in addiction recovery can also aid in improved quality of sleep, more effective engagement in experiential therapies, increased motivation and productivity, and much more. 

Just as the sources of chronic pain and your history with drugs and alcohol are unique to your story, your recovery journey is just as personal. Dedicated pain management programs are available throughout your treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery, helping you manage chronic pain in your healing journey and discomfort through alcohol or drug withdrawal and providing dedicated health care and addiction treatment for the most sustainable and comprehensive approach to your healing journey. 

Personalizing your pain management programs to your unique needs and situation can empower us to find the most effective ways of supporting your change and healing. We combine proven, evidence-based treatment options with personalized, holistic care to help you not just manage chronic pain but overcome its effects on your daily life for a fulfilling and transformative sobriety. 

Hawaii Island Recovery also offers dedicated programs to address your specific needs further. Chronic pain and addiction can be especially common among veterans and military families. Our dedicated veteran healing program is designed to address the unique needs of veterans, best supporting your successful pain management, addiction recovery, and more through effective, pertinent, trauma-informed treatment. This personalized approach to each treatment program also ensures that you find your place of belonging and support in recovery, develop a sense of camaraderie and accountability, and commit to your best path to sustainable change.

Personalizing your pain management program means addressing an array of unique needs. We incorporate physical exercise and healing into your journey through experiential therapy options like nature hikes and exercise outlets. We even have an on-site gym to aid your physical healing. Our on-site chef also supports this, providing nutritious and healthy meals to aid in physical healing and pain management. 

Yoga, physical therapy, meditation, and more are also available to help you connect to your body, bolstering mindfulness practices and your ability to focus on your needs in sober healing. Feeling connected to your body can better empower you to take action to manage pain and take control of your physical, mental, and emotional healing journey. Holistic healing options like acupuncture are also available to personalize your physical healing from chronic pain further, ensuring that there are always new strategies to try to manage pain in your comprehensive recovery plan. 

Medication under the use of a dedicated healthcare professional at Hawaii Island Recovery can further support your healing journey, helping you manage chronic pain to better engage in other healing efforts and goals. Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, is the use of medication to aid in many challenges of addiction recovery and can also play a role in pain management, reducing urges and cravings, and preventing relapse during your treatment at Hawaii Island Recovery and beyond. 

The use of non-opioid pain medication like Tylenol can be helpful. However, more specific medications may also be used to help manage pain and address the challenges of addiction recovery simultaneously. Buprenepherone can be used in treating opioid use disorder while also managing pain that may be affecting your daily quality of life. Methadone can also be used in similar situations to aid in opioid treatment and severe chronic pain. 

Some medications can also be used to address chronic pain alongside mental health challenges like pain and depression. These kinds of antidepressants can help address multiple challenges at once and empower you to make the most of your time in dedicated treatment and recovery. 

Managing pain can be difficult. It requires a specialized approach, especially when overcoming the challenges of addiction and mental health disorders in tandem with addressing intense chronic pain. Stimulation techniques can be used to address this pain in your healing journey. However, these kinds of techniques are not a replacement for other forms of therapy and are instead most effective when used alongside psychotherapy programs and treatment to create a holistic approach to healing. 

Combining stimulation techniques with proven therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and other proven therapies is necessary to not just address chronic pain but also explore its underlying mental and emotional effects on your health. Likewise, managing chronic pain while also engaging in effective trauma-informed therapies and PTSD treatment may also be necessary, depending on your history with past injuries that may have caused persistent chronic pain today. 

The use of nerve stimulation techniques can be beneficial for managing pain. In this strategy, electrical impulses are delivered to specific parts of the brain to stimulate particular nerve endings, helping to disrupt pain signals and offering a degree of relief. However, other forms include delivering messages to the spinal cord, depending on the type of pain you experience. This option can be great for those overcoming addiction as it is a non-drug-related way to alleviate pain while pursuing sober healing treatments and therapies. 

Disrupting these signals can empower you to move past feelings of choice pain and better engage in your daily life and recovery efforts, all while promoting comfort, control, and much more. Talking to a medical professional at Hawaii Island Recovery about your pain and needs in recovery can help you explore if this option is right for you.

Chronic pain can also have its roots in psychological and mental health needs. Persistent, intense levels of anxiety and stress can bring with it actual feelings of physical pain, aches, and more. Dedicated mental health treatment, stress-reduction techniques, and practicing grounding techniques for navigating anxiety, depression, and other needs can help alleviate pains that may have their roots in these challenges, addressing both feelings of chronic pain and mental health needs in tandem. 

Effective healing at Hawaii Island Recovery is a comprehensive effort. We treat the whole self while exploring how your unique needs and challenges interact for the most effective approach to healing. Overcoming pain or addiction is not about addressing individual symptoms but treating the whole self for sustainable change.

Pain management programs are just part of your healing journey and can be incorporated into your treatment plan to address any number of personal needs and goals in treatment. Many of those living with addiction may also be facing mental health issues, both of which can have ties to persistent chronic pain in daily life. Pain management programs can help you address these feelings of discomfort while overcoming co-occurring disorders. 

No part of addressing any form of addiction or mental health disorder is easy. Having the most robust program available is necessary to engage in truly transformative healing. Our pain management programs can be instrumental in supporting your journey to overcoming co-occurring disorders while exploring the connection between mental health disorders, pain, trauma, and substance use for an educated, effective approach to genuine change.

Hawaii is a special place filled with healing energies and unique advantages, even in processing chronic pain. We work with the natural advantages of the big island of Hawaii itself to reduce stress and encourage natural healing options, from getting outside and exercising to eating healthy while learning more about the island, its nature, and its culture. The spirit of aloha that permeates our community is also blended into each of our treatment programs. This creates an accepting and supportive community for you to overcome an array of personal challenges, from mental health needs and addiction to pain, with our community being a part of your comprehensive change. 

At Hawaii Island Recovery, we are also committed to your healing even after you graduate from our program. We provide aftercare support, a constant community of peers, and even virtual care options so you can stay connected to the healing energies and spirit of Hawaii wherever you are in your healing journey. 

Managing pain is an essential part of comprehensive healing and your overall wellness in addiction recovery. Learn about our pain management programs and how they can support your sober transformation by calling (866) 390-5070.