If you’re like me you know that living with chronic pain is very difficult. If you also have a coexisting addiction or other psychological disorders it becomes even harder. Your self-esteem is practically non-existent and many of you may even lose the support of their significant others.

People with chronic pain and coexisting disorders often become depressed and feel a deep sense of hopelessness. Healthcare providers often become confused and frustrated when their treatment interventions are ineffective, and often blame the patient (you). Given the biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain it is imperative to utilize a multidisciplinary treatment plan.
 
I’ve helped people who were mislead by some unscrupulous healthcare providers who told them they could handle all of their chronic pain management needs.  In many cases what they offered was a wide spectrum of medication that led many of these people into bad problems. Other alternative healcare providers promised “miracle” treatment interventions; usually at a very high cost.

True multidisciplinary pain management involves a host of interventions such as physical therapy, massage, medication management, counseling or therapy, biofeedback, occupational therapy, exercise physiology, an addiction medicine specialist, an anesthesiologist or pharmacologist, and a case manager. It may also include some type of movement therapy such as Tai Chi, classes on spiritual wellness, yoga or meditation.

To learn more about chronic pain management please check out our website at www.addiction-free.com and go to our Publications page and check out my book Managing Pain and Coexisting Disorders: Using the Addiction-Free Pain Management® System. You can also check out our Articles page to download my free article The Need for Multidisciplinary Chronic Pain Treatment.