Finding safe and effective pain relief is paramount when you’re struggling daily with chronic pain. If you are one of the millions of Americans dealing with severe pain every day, exploring non-opioid options first helps avoid addiction, drug reliance, overdoses and opioid use disorder. With the NOPAIN ACT going into effect, more nonopioid options are reimbursable and offered in place of low-cost narcotics to patients.
Pain itself can be disabling and affect your ability to work, care for yourself or your family and enjoy life to the fullest.[1] Thankfully, modern pain management offers a comprehensive approach that combines non-narcotic medications with interventional procedures, complementary treatments and alternative therapies. Whether you have chronic pain due to injuries, illness, musculoskeletal problems, migraines or neuropathy, there is an opioid alternative that’s right for you.
Why Should I Seek Non-Opioid Treatment Options?
Opioids offer powerful pain relief, but they also carry a high risk of addiction, dependency, misuse and overdose.[2] For this reason, you and your providers may explore non-opioid medications and therapies for your pain management treatment plan. These more recent approaches focus on long-term pain relief by targeting pain at its source while improving overall function and well-being. This whole body care model provides relief and allows you to regain the quality of your life without relying solely on painkillers.
Non-Narcotics and Adjuvant Analgesics for Pain
Acute and chronic pain conditions can be safely and effectively managed with nonopioid medications.[3] The use of non-narcotics and adjuvant analgesics (medications not designed for pain control) helps improve your pain and function without the risks and side effects associated with prescription opioids.[3]
According to Florida Health, there are several prescription and OTC narcotic alternatives for pain control, such as:
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve)
- Nerve pain medication: Gabapentin (Neuraptine) or Pregabalin (Lyrica)
- Medicated topicals: Creams, sprays, gels, lotions, ointments and patches with Anesthetics (lidocaine). NSAIDs, capsaicin and muscle relaxers
Adjuvant medications are drugs, such as antidepressants, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, and muscle relaxants (antispasmodics), primarily used for other conditions that can help enhance pain relief by addressing underlying factors like nerve pain, inflammation, or muscle spasms.[4]
Here are some examples of conditions adjuvant medications may be used to treat, according to Very Well Health:
- Arthritis
- Neuropathy
- Postherpetic neuralgia (nerve damage from shingles)
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Stomach or bladder spasticity
- Cancer pain
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spinal cord disease
Nonopioid Interventional Pain Control Options
Interventional pain management offers targeted relief by addressing the pain at its source. These procedures are minimally invasive, completed in-office and require little to no recovery time. These interventions can manage a variety of pain conditions and help avoid narcotic painkillers and surgical procedures.
Here are some popular methods to reduce pain and improve mobility without opioids:
- Nerve blocks
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Epidural steroid injections
- Facet joint injections
- Trigger point injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Scrambler therapy
- Joint injections (e.g., shoulder, knee, or hip)
- Percutaneous disc nucleoplasty
Drug-Free Pain Relief Alternatives
If you’d prefer to avoid medications or would like to combine medication with non-pharmacological (non-drug) therapies, there are safe and effective options available. Complementary and alternative therapies can be used to reduce discomfort and improve function. Most treatments focus on natural healing and addressing root causes holistically.
Here are several helpful drug-free pain relief therapies that you may want to consider:
- Physical therapy
- Exercise
- Yoga
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic care
- Massage therapy
- Mindfulness, meditation and relaxation techniques
- Biofeedback therapy
- Talk therapy and support groups
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Heat and cold therapy
Expanding the Use of Non-Opioid Alternatives for Pain Management
Pain is a natural response to illness or injury, but effective pain management is key to relieving your discomfort and restoring your quality of life. Due to their low cost and insurance reimbursement policies, opioids are often prescribed for pain, but they do carry the risk of addiction, dependency, overdose and serious side effects. A multidisciplinary approach to controlling your pain combines various treatments, including non-narcotic medications, interventional procedures and therapeutic alternatives to address your pain in a safer, more sustainable way.
The passage of laws like the federal NOPAIN Act and Florida’s Non-Opioid Alternative Law (Bill 451) highlights the growing trend toward pain control without narcotics. Bill 451, approved by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2019, states that your healthcare provider must tell you the benefits of non-opioid alternatives versus the risks of opioids before prescribing them. Both laws help empower you to make informed decisions about your care.
By working closely with your pain specialist, you can create a personalized pain management plan that uses a comprehensive approach without narcotic painkillers. This multimodal approach allows you to find long-term pain relief without the risks associated with opioid use.
Resources:
- The best non-opioid relief for serious pain. Aetna [Internet]. Accessed December 13, 2024. Available from: https://www.aetna.com/health-guide/non-opioid-painkillers.html
- Non-Opioid Treatment. Made For This Moment | American Society of Anesthesiologists [Internet]. Published 2024. Accessed December 13, 2024. Available from: https://madeforthismoment.asahq.org/pain-management/non-opioid-treatment/
- Nonopioid Therapies for Pain Management – Overdose Prevention. Center for Disease Control – CDC [Internet] Published May 2, 2024. Accessed December 13, 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/nonopioid-therapies-for-pain-management.html
- Jaques E. How Adjuvant Analgesics Are Used to Treat Chronic Pain. Verywell Health [Internet]. Updated November 02, 2022. Accessed December 13, 2024. Available from: https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-adjuvant-analgesics-2564529
