It’s an unfortunate fact that millions of people live in chronic pain, and one of the most common areas that hurt are the knees. Many people with knee pain can’t get through the day without painkillers, some of which are prescribed by their doctor and can lead to prescription drug addiction. Addiction treatment centers are filled with people trying to get off these painkillers – for many, the pain is preferable to the problems caused by taking the drugs. But, there are drug-free alternatives many may not have tried.

One of the most common conditions that causes knee pain is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome – a condition that affects the knee cap and the surrounding area. The problem is most common in young, active people and athletes but it can effect people of all ages. It’s usually aggravated by activity, even something like walking down the stairs, but it can also get worse with no activity whatsoever. It’s important to stay active – with the right type of exercise.

Non-impact exercise like swimming is usually beneficial. It allows the knee to heal while staying active. But there are different types of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and some require additional exercises that specifically address the type you have.

Your best bet is to visit a physical therapist to get an analysis of the exact problem and a program to handle it.

Unfortunately, many people with knee pain, and pain in other areas, don’t have health insurance that covers physical therapy and they can’t afford a long course of treatment. Instead, they wind up on prescription painkillers, which they often can get their insurance to cover. Unfortunately, they risk of prescription drug addiction when they go that route, not to mention all the other potential side effects.

However, to benefit from physical therapy you don’t necessarily need to see the physical therapist for a long time. Sometimes just one visit, where the therapist can pinpoint the exact problem and then work out a home exercise program, is enough. You might need one more visit to make sure you know how to do the exercises properly, but you shouldn’t need more.

Taking painkillers for an extended period is not only dangerous; it can also stop working after a period of time. In fact, taking painkillers for an extended time can actually cause pain, according to recent research. Long after the injury or condition has healed, when the pain should be gone, patients find themselves in as much pain as ever. They keep taking the painkillers, not knowing that the painkillers are actually causing the pain.

By that time, they might also be addicted. So, they now have two problems.

If you would like to address both problems, find out more about addiction treatment centers that can help you safely get off the drugs, and then pursue physical therapy or some other form of non-drug solution.

 

 

Dr. Phil Interviews the Interventionist on Prescription Drug Abuse – Joani Gammill, author of the Hazelden published book, The Interventionist, appeared on the nationally syndicated CBS show “Dr. Phil.” The episode features Gammill’s work with a woman who is addicted to prescription medications. Gammill a registered nurse who first met Dr. Phil when she revealed her own addiction to prescription painkillers, including her near-fatal morphine overdose. Through a life-changing intervention staged by Dr. Phil on his show, Gammill not only committed to getting help for her addiction but she went on to become a professional interventionist helping countless others. For more information about Hazelden, please visit www.hazelden.org or call 800-257-7810.

 

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