Working Together With Your Doctor to Manage Your Pain

Pain affects more than just your body. It can make you feel sad or hopeless and can make you miss out on the things that matter most to you. Over 50 million U.S. adults reported chronic pain in 2021.¹ Although managing pain can be challenging, there are ways to safely treat and reduce pain. By working together, you and your doctor can find the best way to manage your pain.

Work with Your Doctor to Make Decisions About Managing Your Pain

To improve the safety and effectiveness of pain management, it is important to work with your doctor to make decisions together. Through collaboration, you can discuss your specific circumstances and situation to find treatments that are effective for your body. You may have concerns about the benefits and risks of prescription opioids and other pain treatment strategies. Anyone who uses opioids can experience an overdose, but certain factors may increase risk.¹ Nonopioid treatment options, treatments that do not use opioids, may provide greater benefits relative to risks. Be sure to ask questions, communicate openly, and share your feelings. Having open, honest conversations with your doctor can help build a relationship with shared understanding. By deciding treatment recommendations specific to your situation, you can reduce the risks associated with pain treatment.

Nonopioid Therapies Can Be Effective and Safer than Opioids

Your doctor may recommend opioid therapy based on the reason for and duration of your pain (i.e., acute, subacute, and chronic). Before deciding to start opioid therapy, discuss your options for pain care with your doctor. Psychological and social factors can also influence pain which may be better addressed by nonopioid treatment options. You can take time to learn about nonopioid options which may work better with fewer risks and side effects.

• Nonopioid medications include drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil®), gabapentin, and certain anti-depressants. These medications have shown to relieve certain types of pain better than opioids, including surgical dental pain, headache, back pain, and others.² You can find out from your doctor which conditions are best treated by each nonopioid medication.
• Nonopioid nonpharmacologic therapies include options such as physical therapy, exercise and weight loss, acupuncture, and massage. These therapies have the potential to improve pain and function without risk for serious harms.
• Behavioral treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy use a psychological approach to change your physical, behavioral, and emotional responses to pain and stress. These treatments can improve pain and function without risk for serious harms.

Opioids come with increased risks for serious harms. Some risks include developing opioid use disorder (OUD), sometimes referred to as opioid addiction, fractures, falls, and overdose. In the U.S. in 2021, among persons 12 years and older, 8.7 million people reported misuse of prescription pain relievers in the past year.³ 5 million people had a prescription pain reliever use disorder in the same period. Ask questions to clarify the risks and realistic benefits for opioid therapy. By having conversations with your doctor, you can decide together what’s best for you and help prevent potential harms from opioid use.

If You are Prescribed Opioids for Pain Therapy

Your doctor may prescribe opioids such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine, to treat your pain. These medications carry serious risks for opioid use disorder and overdose, especially with long-term therapy. If you are prescribed opioids for pain therapy, it may help to have a clear line of communication with your doctor. You can work closely with your doctor to create a pain management plan. Meeting regularly to reevaluate how well your pain is controlled may help you feel better physically and mentally. Here are some things to remember.