Understanding Opioids and Their Risks

Opioids work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and other areas of the body, reducing the perception of pain. While these drugs are effective in acute and post-surgical settings, medical professionals can no longer overlook their potential for dependence and addiction. An opioid tolerance can escalate quickly, forcing you to seek higher doses to achieve the same desirable effects.

The opioid crisis, fueled by overprescribing and misleading marketing, has highlighted the need for alternative pain management strategies. This issue raises critical questions – how much pain is enough to warrant the use of these potent drugs? And what alternatives are available?

Integrative Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Pain Management

At Recovery Without Walls, we believe in addressing pain with a comprehensive, patient-centered approach. Our integrative medicine model allows us to create personalized treatment plans that consider each patient’s unique needs and diagnoses.

1. Evidence-based pharmacology: We use effective medications with a lower risk of addiction and side effects compared to opioids. Dr. Howard Kornfeld of Recovery Without Walls has pioneered buprenorphine for treating chronic pain. People taking this medication do not experience the euphoria associated with opioids, reducing your risk of becoming dependent.
2. Nutritional support: Nutrition plays a critical role in pain management. Specific foods and supplements can reduce inflammation, improve nerve function and enhance your body’s natural healing processes.
3. Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, stress management techniques and sufficient sleep are integral parts of our approach. These elements help strengthen the body and improve resilience to pain.
4. Healing arts: Therapies such as acupuncture, massage and yoga can effectively relieve pain and reduce the need for medications.
5. Mental health care: Chronic pain can affect your mental well-being. Psychotherapy and mindfulness are essential components of our integrative psychiatry plans.

Functional Medicine for Pain Management

Justifying opioid use is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of the risks and benefits. At Recovery Without Walls, our goal is to manage pain effectively while minimizing the risk of opioid dependence and addiction. Our integrative approach to pain management represents a paradigm shift that emphasizes holistic health and well-being. If you struggle with pain management, we invite you to explore the comprehensive and personalized care options we offer. Connect with us today to learn more.

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Understanding and Overcoming Chronic Pain

Unlike its acute counterpart, chronic pain persists beyond the usual healing time. A myriad of causes could trigger it – from injuries and nerve damage to the natural aging process or even genetic predispositions. Its manifestations vary, with arthritis, cancer, neuropathy and several other conditions making up its broad spectrum.

If you live with chronic pain, you know how draining it can be. Many patients exhaust a gamut of trial-and-error treatments – over-the-counter medications, narcotic prescriptions, physical therapies and even do-it-yourself home remedies. When the pain persists, despair mounts, and some people even spiral into the abyss of drug or alcohol addiction.

Pioneering Pain Management

At Recovery Without Walls, we’ve cultivated a holistic method that addresses the physical and psychological aspects of chronic pain. Dr. Howard Kornfeld, a preeminent figure in pain management, spearheads our mission to redefine treatment. Rooted in cutting-edge pharmacological research, adept psychotherapy and integrative healing modalities, our approach is a new paradigm.

A cornerstone of our methodology is the use of buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone. Unlike conventional opioids, buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, drastically reducing its potential for addiction. While it effectively targets specific brain regions to alleviate pain and counter opioid withdrawal, it simultaneously acts as an antagonist on other opioid receptors. This dual action ensures patients do not get trapped in the seductive euphoria synonymous with opioids like heroin.

Multiple studies underline buprenorphine’s effectiveness. From superior pain management and better control over psychiatric symptoms to a significantly reduced risk of overdosing, the benefits are manifold. Moreover, people taking this medication exhibit enhanced social functionality, consistent treatment adherence, diminished illicit drug use and reduced criminal behavior.

Integrative Medicine at Recovery Without Walls

Chronic pain doesn’t merely torment your body; it also holds your psyche captive. The vicious cycle of enduring agony and resorting to potentially addictive relief methods is a story too many people are tragically familiar with. Fortunately, integrative medicine offers a way out. Through personalized care and customized interventions, clients in our Bay Area pain management program find worthwhile, effective solutions backed by our clinical team’s expertise.

If you also struggle with concurrent mental health or substance use disorders, our multifaceted care program is ideal for you. Our clinical team fashions bespoke treatment plans, underpinned by robust evidence, catering to a diverse range of diagnoses.

Chronic pain shouldn’t define you. This Pain Awareness Month, take the first step toward freedom by contacting us at Recovery Without Walls.

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The Functional Medicine Difference

Functional and integrative medicine is a science-based approach that transcends the current treatment model for addiction and chronic pain. It involves creating individual interventions to restore physiological, psychological and structural balance. It’s a paradigm shift from traditional medical practices, switching the focus from disease-centered care to a more patient-centered approach.

Unlike traditional medicine, which often addresses symptoms in isolation, functional medicine seeks to understand the origins of disease using a systems-oriented approach that engages patients and practitioners in a therapeutic partnership. Customized care plans allow us to view the body as an interconnected whole.

For example, instead of prescribing medication for chronic migraines, a functional medicine practitioner might consider the roles of diet, stress, physical activity and genetic factors. Then, they could devise a holistic treatment plan involving lifestyle adjustments like dietary changes, stress management and regular exercise.

Benefits of Functional Medicine

Through personalized care and customized interventions, Recovery Without Walls’ expert clinical team provides a worthwhile, effective path to healing.

1. Individualized treatments: Functional medicine recognizes everyone’s genetic and biological differences. As such, practitioners offer personalized care, tailoring treatments and interventions to the needs of each patient.
2. Focus on the root cause: Functional medicine addresses illness at its root. By understanding the fundamental physiological processes, environmental influence and genetic predispositions, we can better treat and manage the disease.
3. Comprehensive approach: By considering all aspects of a patient’s life, functional medicine practitioners provide a comprehensive approach to treatment – addressing physical and mental health, nutrition, heredity and lifestyle factors.
4. Promotes vitality: Traditional medicine often defines health as the absence of disease. In contrast, functional medicine aims to promote health as a state of vitality. With functional medicine, you will not only live, but thrive.

A Revolutionary Healing Philosophy at Recovery Without Walls

By employing functional medicine, Recovery Without Walls puts you at the center of your recovery journey. Our compassionate team will take time to understand your unique health needs and work with you to create a tailored, comprehensive treatment plan that promotes lasting health and wellness.

At Recovery Without Walls, we supplement proven medical and pharmacological interventions for chronic pain and addiction with validated, evidence-based healing modalities. Contact us to learn more about our holistic, integrative addiction and pain management services.

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Complementary and alternative medicine is an umbrella term for nontraditional therapies and techniques such as acupuncture, massage and yoga. When paired with conventional medical treatments, CAM can offer a holistic approach to wellness.

Benefits of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Recovery Without Walls’ clinical team uses validated, evidence-based treatment modalities to supplement proven medical and pharmacological interventions. Through personalized wellness plans, our clients find fulfilling, effective pathways to healing.

Complementary and alternative medicine can provide multiple health benefits:

• Pain relief
• Improved mood, with less anxiety and stress
• Feelings of well-being and inner peace
• More energy
• Better flexibility and circulation
• Positive life changes and renewed purpose

Are You Interested in Exploring CAM?

At Recovery Without Walls, we broaden our definition of medicine and treatment to include holistic, time-tested practices. Traditional approaches often treat the symptoms of mental and physical illness without addressing the root causes of each issue. Often, leaving these underlying factors unaddressed has ripple effects that emerge months or years later.  

CAM takes a different path, relying on the profound connection between mind, body and spirit. Using complementary and alternative medicine in tandem with mainstream practices can promote wellness, prevent illnesses and manage conditions like chronic pain, addiction and mental health disorders. Recovery Without Walls’ experienced clinicians offer the following:

• Nutritional support
• Psychotherapy
• Psychopharmacology
• Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy 
• Acupuncture
• Vitamins and supplements
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Exercise programming
• Massage therapy
• Lifestyle changes and support
• Long-term treatment planning
• Individual and family therapy

Many of our clients come to Recovery Without Walls because they want to take a more active, collaborative role in their healing journey. Others are exploring CAM because they have not achieved their desired results from more conventional treatments.

However, if you are currently on a regimen of prescription medication such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, do not stop taking them without consulting your prescribing physician, as abruptly quitting these medications can have dangerous side effects.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Mill Valley, CA

If you struggle with chronic pain, substance abuse or a mental health disorder, we are here to help. At Recovery Without Walls, our team of credentialed experts partners with skilled holistic treatment providers. Together, we will create a fully individualized treatment plan to meet your unique needs. Contact us today to learn more.

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The Connection Between Pain and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Research shows varying levels of connection between these two diagnoses in the last few years. However, data compiled by the National Center for PTSD estimates that 15% to 35% of patients with chronic pain also have PTSD. These two are closely related for a couple of main reasons. The first is that traumatic events can result in an injury that causes persistent discomfort. A car accident, combat, or natural disasters are all life-altering experiences that can leave someone with lasting physical challenges. This relationship also works in the opposite direction. Trauma symptoms can include reactions to stimuli that cause muscle tension or rapid bodily movements, and if these are repeated over time, they can wear on a person’s musculoskeletal system, resulting in chronic pain.

Challenges in Treating Both Diagnoses

Trauma and stressor-related disorders often result in a loss of interest in activities, depression, and anxiety. One of the challenges of coping with this alongside issues related to an injury is the lack of motivation to engage in treatment. Treating chronic pain often requires consistency in exercise to adequately manage symptoms. PTSD can also reduce sleep quality which can intensify existing ailments because the person’s body does not have the rest needed to recover. Treating any type of long-term discomfort that’s a result of trauma is also difficult because the treatment itself can trigger flashbacks of the events, so these two must be addressed at the same time, rather than separately.

How to Manage Pain and PTSD

Without high levels of support, people are more likely to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms to help with their symptoms. This may include misusing prescription drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, or a combination of the two. By seeking out medical care, those with trauma and pain can learn to cope in productive ways. Professional-level support helps to:

• Address both diagnoses concurrently
• Identify how each disorder may be affecting the other
• Provide close monitoring for any medication-related treatment
• Develop healthy and effective coping skills
• Prevent potential substance misuse

These two diagnoses can be well-managed with the right provider who understands the complexities and relationship between them. However, these are not disorders that anyone should attempt to handle without proper care.

Treatment for Chronic Pain and PTSD

Struggling with chronic pain and a trauma-related disorder can be frustrating, but our team at Recovery Without Walls can provide the professional support you need to heal. Our integrative medicine model emphasizes holistic treatment of injury-related issues without the use of addictive medications. We work to heal the whole person through our services by focusing on your individual emotional, spiritual, and health needs. No two experiences are the same, so we take the time to learn from you to determine what would be the most effective treatment plan. If you need help managing persistent pain and PTSD, contact our California clinic today.

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Percocet is the brand name for oxycodone/acetaminophen: a combination of opioid and non-opioid pain relievers. This drug is available by prescription only and lasts, on average, for five hours. It was initially intended for those dealing with severe pain, usually after a surgical procedure or cancer diagnosis. However, opioid-based medications are now widely prescribed for chronic pain associated with conditions like nerve damage, arthritis, and traumatic injury. However, many people who regularly take this drug may not understand its potential interactions with other substances. Today, we’ll explore the interactions between Percocet and alcohol.

Percocet and Alcohol Interactions

Drinking while taking any drug can be unsafe, but consuming alcohol while taking opioids is especially dangerous. Both of these substances are central nervous system depressants; they slow the body’s functions. This means that when someone combines Percocet and alcohol, they magnify the depressant effects of both substances. This choice can have deadly consequences.

When someone drinks and takes opioid pain relievers, they may begin to exhibit the following symptoms:

• Changes in blood pressure
• Loss of consciousness (fainting)
• Irregular heartbeat
• Loss of coordination and muscular control
• Nausea or vomiting
• Respiratory depression and arrest
• Coma or death

Research published by the American Society of Anesthesiologists illustrates the unique risk involved in combining these substances: death by respiratory failure. “Taking one oxycodone tablet together with even a modest amount of alcohol increases the risk of a potentially life-threatening side effect known as respiratory depression,” they write, “which causes breathing to become extremely shallow or stop altogether.” This side effect was especially prevalent among the elderly.

The long-term effects of Percocet and alcohol misuse are also worth noting. Those who regularly take these substances at the same time are at increased risk of colon cancer, cardiac arrest, liver failure, and overdose. If combining these substances is so dangerous, why do people do it?

Polysubstance Abuse: Percocet and Alcohol

There is no one explanation for this pattern of substance misuse. First, some people may be completely unaware of the potential interactions between alcohol and Percocet. Others may disregard their doctor’s orders and think that “just one drink” couldn’t hurt. Even when done unknowingly, individuals who consume both substances are at risk of overdose, death, and addiction.

Finally, some people combine Percocet and alcohol on purpose. This is a phenomenon called polysubstance abuse. In such cases, people take multiple substances in order to alter the effects of each drug.

No matter how it begins, continued misuse of Percocet and alcohol can lead to an extremely powerful – and potentially deadly – addiction. The longer someone exhibits this behavior, the higher their risk of death by respiratory depression. At a certain point, using is no longer voluntary. Individuals who develop a substance use disorder are physically and psychologically dependent on their drugs of choice. Fortunately, treatment is available for those seeking to break the cycle of polysubstance abuse.

Help for Alcohol Dependence and Opioid Use Disorder in Mill Valley, CA

At Recovery Without Walls, we understand the complex pharmacological interactions between various substances. We also know what it takes to overcome chronic pain without the use of opioid pain relievers. Through our innovative, integrated approach, we help men and women from all over the nation to find relief from addiction and chronic pain.

If you regularly misuse Percocet and alcohol, or if you know someone who does, help is just one phone call away. Contact Recovery Without Walls to learn more about treatment options in Mill Valley, California.

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