Living with chronic pain can be a chore, but finding a comprehensive plan that manages your pain shouldn’t be. Your treatment plan shouldn’t shackle you to the prescription counter or constant doctor appointments. More pain specialists are turning to non-opioid strategies: using medications that are not opioids plus interventional pain management options, therapies, lifestyle support and other nonpharmacological treatments.[1] But just because opioids are out, that doesn’t mean your treatment is “set it and forget”. Monitoring and adjustments as needed remain key to a successful pain plan.
What is a “Non-Opioid Pain Plan”?
A multimodal, “whole-patient” approach reflects modern pain management recommendations, which advise maximizing nonopioid medications and nonpharmacologic therapies such as interventional procedures and physical therapy for chronic or long-term pain to reduce risk.[1]
A non-opioid pain management plan typically includes:
- Non-opioid medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, certain antidepressants or anticonvulsants (for nerve pain), topical creams or patches.[2; 3; 4]
- Non-medication therapies and interventions: physical therapy or exercise therapy, manual therapy, mind-body practices (e.g., yoga, tai chi, mindfulness), behavioral therapy, weight management, and other complementary therapies (e.g., acupuncture, massage) when appropriate.[5; 6; 7]
- Interventional procedures or other specialized pain management treatments, such as nerve blocks, neuromodulation, regenerative therapies, advanced procedures or targeted injections, are a vital part of the plan.[8 ;9]
Non-opioid plans can include so many moving parts, such as medications, therapies, and lifestyle changes, so careful monitoring over time is crucial.
Why Ongoing Monitoring Still Matters Even Without Opioids
Monitoring helps make sure the plan remains safe, effective, and tuned to the patient’s changing needs. Even non-opioid medications and treatments have risks or may lose effectiveness over time. For example:
- Long-term use of NSAIDs can increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems, kidney issues, fluid retention, and elevated blood pressure, especially in older adults or people with comorbidities.[10; 2]
- For nerve pain or chronic musculoskeletal conditions, drugs like antidepressants or anticonvulsants can help, but they might cause side effects, and their long-term benefits vary depending on individual health, type of pain, and other factors.[4;11]
- Nonpharmacologic therapies such as exercise, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and mind-body practices require ongoing commitment, and their benefits often depend on consistency and adherence.[5; 6]
How Doctors Typically Monitor Non-Opioid Pain Management
Here’s what patients might expect during follow-ups, and what your care team watches for:
- Regular check-ins on pain and function. At follow-up visits (frequency depending on the clinic), doctors will ask not only about your pain levels but also how pain affects your daily activities, such as work, sleep, mobility, and mood. The goal isn’t simply to “lower a number,” but to improve your overall quality of life.
- Assessing medication effects and safety. If you’re on NSAIDs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or other non-opioid meds, your provider may periodically review side effects, check blood pressure or kidney/liver function (if relevant), and reassess whether the drug dose or medicine choice still makes sense.
- Adjusting the care plan over time. Pain and how it affects you can change. If a given medicine stops helping or causes unwanted effects, your doctor may switch medications, add or remove therapies, or suggest other treatments (physical therapy, injections, behavioral therapy, etc.).
- Tracking functional goals, not just pain. Non-opioid pain management often emphasizes function over complete pain elimination. That means measuring progress in terms of what you can do, like walking, working, sleeping better, participating in life, rather than chasing a “zero-pain” goal.
- Collaborative, team-based care. Non-opioid pain plans may involve multiple providers: pain doctors, physical therapists, psychologists/behavioral therapists, and maybe other specialists. Your doctor helps coordinate care and follow-up to make sure all parts work together.[12; 6]
What You Can Do to Help the Monitoring Process Work
Good pain management is a team effort, and you are a key part of that team. Between appointments, your job is to pay attention to how you feel, how treatment is helping (or not), and to consistent adherence to your doctor’s strategy. Adherence is paramount.
- Be open and honest about how pain affects your day-to-day, not just “pain severity,” but function, sleep, mood, and activity levels.
- Keep a simple pain journal to track when pain flares, what activities make it better or worse, and how treatments are helping. This makes follow-up visits more productive and helps your provider spot patterns faster.
- Keep track of side effects from non-opioid medications (stomach issues, mood changes, sleep problems, etc.). If anything changes, let your provider know.
- Engage consistently with recommended therapies: physical therapy, exercise, behavioral therapy, and mind-body practices; they’re as important as medications in a non-opioid plan.
- Treat this as a journey: your plan may need to be tweaked over time. It’s not “set and forget,” it’s “set, monitor, adjust.”
- Ask questions to ensure you understand your treatment plan. If a medication isn’t helping or causing problems, don’t wait.
Why An Opioid-Free Plan Is a Better Long-Term Solution for You
Medical experts increasingly recommend non-opioid approaches for chronic or long-term pain, because they offer pain relief without many of the risks tied to opioids (dependence, overdose, tolerance).[5; 3]
Modern pain management programs emphasize restoring function and quality of life, often reducing or eliminating reliance on all pain medications over time, whether it’s opioids or otherwise.[12; 13] That means a well-monitored non-opioid plan has the potential not just for symptom management, but for real, lasting improvement in how you live day to day.
Talk With a Pain Specialist Who Prioritizes Safer, Long-Term Pain Relief
If you’re already on a non-opioid plan or thinking about switching, remember: this isn’t a “one-and-done” prescription. It’s a process that requires your commitment. It works because it’s an ongoing, tuned-in partnership between you and your pain management team. With regular check-ins, honest communication, and flexibility, a non-opioid plan can help you manage pain while protecting your long-term health and quality of life.
Many patients also come to pain specialists because they’re currently taking opioids but want a safer, more sustainable strategy. The CDC notes that tapering or changing opioid regimens must be slow, individualized, and medically supervised to avoid withdrawal, worsening pain, or psychological distress.[14] You should never stop opioids suddenly on your own, but you can talk with a specialist who is experienced in transitioning patients to multimodal, non-opioid plans when appropriate. A good pain clinic will meet you where you are and not judge you, rush you, or make unsafe changes.
Your pain specialist can also help you:
- Understand whether non-opioid approaches could safely reduce your reliance on daily opioids
- Create a slow, individualized tapering schedule if indicated [15]
- Add non-opioid medications, physical therapy, injections, lifestyle strategies, or other treatments to support your pain during the transition
- Monitor your progress closely so you stay safe and supported
If you’re looking for a clinic that prioritizes whole-person care, emphasizes non-opioid strategies, and offers treatments like physical therapy guidance, injections, lifestyle counseling, or other minimally invasive options, a pain management specialist can help you explore the right fit for your needs.
You deserve relief that supports your life, not just your symptoms.
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you experience sudden, severe, or worsening pain — especially if it’s accompanied by symptoms like fever, numbness, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, or loss of bladder or bowel control — seek immediate medical care. Don’t wait for your next pain management appointment.
If you are currently taking prescription opioids and are worried about dependence, withdrawal symptoms, or difficulty reducing your dose, do not stop your medication suddenly. According to the CDC and FDA, abrupt opioid discontinuation can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms and medical complications, and tapering should always be slow, individualized, and supervised by a qualified clinician. If you or a loved one may be struggling with opioid dependence, contact your pain specialist or primary care provider as soon as possible — they can help you access safe, evidence-based treatment and support.
If you ever feel you or someone else is at risk of harm because of opioid use, call emergency services or seek immediate medical help.
Resources:
- Dey S, Sanders AE, Martinez S, et al. Alternatives to Opioids for Managing Pain. [Updated 2024 Nov 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574543/
- Dowell D, Ragan KR, Jones CM, et al. CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain — United States, 2022. Recommendations and Reports – CDC [Internet]. Published November 04, 2022. 71(3);1–95. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm
- Vollenweider J. Opioids aren’t the only effective treatment for pain management. Mayo Clinic Press [Internet]. Published January 17, 2023. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/opioids/good-opioid-alternatives/
- Selph S, McDonagh M, Pappas M, et al. Systematic Review on Nonopioid Pharmacologic Treatments for Chronic Pain: Surveillance Report 3: Literature Update Period: January 2022 through April 1, 2022. 2022 Jun. In: Systematic Review on Nonopioid Pharmacologic Treatments for Chronic Pain: Surveillance Reports [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2019 Sep-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589567/
- Nonopioid therapies for pain management. Overdose Prevention – CDC [Internet]. Published 2024. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/nonopioid-therapies-for-pain-management.html
- Holistic Pain Management Program. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/wellness/integrative/holistic-pain-management-program
- Non-Opioid Therapies for Pain: A Clinical Reference. Overdose Resource Exchange (ORE) – CDC [Internet]. Published September 27, 2024. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-resources/hcp/files/non-opioid-therapies-for-pain-a-clinical-reference.html
- Chronic Pain Treatment Guide – Manage Your Pain and Enjoy Life Again. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed December 9, 2025. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://pages.clevelandclinic.org/rs/434-PSA-612/images/pain-management-guide.pdf
- Chronic Pain Management. Cleveland Clinic [Internet]. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/anesthesiology/depts/pain-management
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Chronic Pain: Medication Decisions. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Published December 19, 2024. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/in-depth/chronic-pain-medication-decisions/art-20360371
- Evidence-Based Management of Chronic Pain. Astramd.org [Internet]. Published 2025. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://astramd.org/articles/evidence-based-management-of-chronic-pain
- Pain Rehabilitation Center – Overview. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Published 2025. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center
- Rehabilitation Center – Featured programs. Mayo Clinic [Internet]. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pain-rehabilitation-center/sections/featured-programs/gnc-20481713
- Opioid Tapering: Talking with Patients about Treatment Changes. CDC [Internet]. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-resources/pdf/Tapering-Conversation-Starter_508.pdf
- CDC. Continuing Opioid Therapy. Overdose Prevention. CDC [Internet]. Published May 7, 2024. Accessed December 08, 2025. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/continuing-opioid-therapy.html
