Chronic Pain with Addiction at the Center for Addiction Medicine
At Alexian Brothers, we understand how challenging it can be to experience chronic pain and then find out that many of the commonly prescribed pain medications are rapidly addictive. We further understand that no one asks to have chronic pain, and many struggle when realizing that they now have two diseases to manage: the original chronic pain itself and the subsequent addiction to pain killers.
Chronic Pain Addiction Warning Signs
- Increase in use of pain medications due to lack of effectiveness of prescribed dosage.
- Feeling irritable, depressed, and anxious while waiting until scheduled time to take next dose.
- Starting to take dose earlier than prescribed in order to avoid pain, or “get ahead” of pain symptoms.
- Lack of progress with physical therapy.
- Failure to follow up with, or irregular attendance with providers for therapy or medical appointments.
- Starting to use alcohol, sleeping pills, or anti-anxiety medications to help manage pain.
- Rearranging one's schedule or planning activities around times to take medications.
- Continued use has caused you to miss or fail to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home.
- Driving or operating machinery despite label warning not to do so.
Who We Treat
We offer free, confidential assessments of your addiction treatment needs.
For more information, or to speak with a counselor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, please call 1-800-432-5005.
