Non-Opioid Treatments For Chronic Pain
Opioids are only one of the ways to manage chronic pain and are no longer recommended as first-line treatment by many professional organizations and pain guidelines.
There are many non-opioid alternatives available to people living with chronic pain. Your health-care provider can help you explore the options available to treat your particular type of pain. These non-opioid options to manage chronic pain may include:
- Non-opioid pain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen), antidepressants, and others
- Physical activity and physical therapies
- Psychological therapies
- Self-management techniques (that can be learned online or with guidance from practitioners)