Methadone and Severe Back Pain

Methadone is a synthetic narcotic pain reliever with opioid properties.? It’s medically relevant as an analgesic, antitussive and is also a part of primary treatment for drug addiction and maintenance programs. This drug was originally developed by scientists in Germany in 1937 as an opiate-based painkiller. It drug is different from other opioids such as morphine and heroin in its chemical constitution but has similar effects as it also acts on the opioid receptors. This drug has long lasting effect and thus it is used to manage chronic pain. Added to that, it is also available at a reasonable rate making it highly popular among doctors and patients.During drug addiction therapy, this drug is also known to reduce withdrawal symptoms in people addicted to heroin and other narcotic drug without having the same effects that is found in drug addiction.   Action of methadone on pain
This drug binds to the opioid receptor and produces analgesia. These receptors are bound to endogenous opioid compounds and are classified as mu, kappa and delta. This medicine occupies the mu receptor which is located peripherally (on the outer side) on the sensory nerves and immune cells and on the central side in the spinal cord and brainstem. This drug is prescribed for severe cancer pain, post operative pain and other forms of severs body pains. This drug can successfully treat both local and generalized pain and is recommended by the WHO in limited dosage .   This drug is contraindicated in the below mentioned cases.

  • Respirator disorders like asthma, COPD or sleep apnea (snoring)
  • hypothyroidism
  • abnormal curvature of the spine
  • a history of head injury or brain tumor
  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • gallbladder disease
  • Addison’s disease or other adrenal gland disorders
  • enlarged prostate, urination problems;
  • mental illness
  • low blood pressure
  • History of drug or alcohol addiction.
  • liver or kidney disease

  Side effects

  • Prolonged use of this drug can cause addiction that is far more serious than other opioits as it takes more than 6- 5 weeks for recovery while the others may take a week to ten days. Withdrawal symptoms include severe muscle and bone pain, respiratory disorders, nausea and vomiting, tachycardia, involuntary twitching and kicking, intestinal spasms, depression, anxiety, mood swings, hallucinations along with suicidal thoughts.
  • Overdose of this drug can slow the breathing to such an extent that it can lead to death.
  • Combining this drug with alcohol can have serious side effects and may even cause death. It can impair a persons thinking or reactions

  Usage
It’s important to have the same amount of dose as prescribed by the physician and only for the given time. Over dosing and prolonged usage can have severe side effects. It’s also advised not to stop taking this drug suddenly as even that can have adverse effects.

Pain Management Practices

Pain management techniques are practices that most people are looking for in order to get rid of their physical sufferings. In the fast moving era when people are coping with the pace of the time, they are getting prone to various physical disorders. An extensive number of people are suffering from arthritis and other physical inflammation. This makes it daunting form such individuals to focus on other aspects of life. It does not only hinder the physical condition of the victim but also considerably influences the psychological state of the patients. Hence, most people felt the need of techniques and practices to manage pain.? In the same course most victims try various measures to overcome the malfunction, out of which many are ineffective in curing the disorder. However, it should be understood that opting for a particular or set of pain management techniques should be based on the type of pain. So it is essential to understand the root of the cause and then select a management technique.  Medications or Pain relaxants:
Medications such as specific pain relaxants are effective in curing pain temporarily. Your pain may also never return if it is not a chronic inflammation. These medicines are generally prescribed by certified health care practitioner and are available with all pharmacies. These medicines are also known as ‘pain killers’ which denotes their objective of truncating pain from the body. Most relaxants work on spinal cord which is linked with skeletal bones. The active components of these drugs block the nervous signals which are transmitted to the muscles and are responsible for causing pain. Muscle relaxants are suitable for temporary but immediate cure from the pain.? It is also essential to understand that these medicines may have some side effects; hence, it is advised to take these medicines on doctor’s advice.  
Exercises:
One of the widely believed facts is that along with medication, appropriate and effective exercises are also essential for obtaining long term relief from pain. It is known that exercises can also aid in truncating pain and maintain functioning of respective body parts. Doctors may usually suggest exercising techniques to people suffering from arthritis. Some people may find it difficult to exercise due to their painful physical conditions; such people should get in touch with their health advisor and get the issue solved.  
Hydrotherapy:
Hydrotherapy is commonly known technique which is highly adopted by people suffering from arthritis or any another kind of pain. In this therapy a bag filled with sufficiently warm water should be placed on the body part where inflammation is experienced. It helps by reducing or eradicating stiffness of muscles, spasm and pain. This therapy can also be opted through specialized warm water pools, hot tubs, spas etc.  
Sufficient rest:
There are chances that the pain that you are experiencing is due to lack of rest. If you feel that this may be the case, then allow your body to calm down and get recharged by resting for sufficient hours. You must take appropriate rest along with suitable exercises.  
Massage:
Evidently, massage is also considered to be very effective for reducing pain. It can eradicate pain, provide relief to muscles from spasms, relax toned or stiff muscles etc. If you are opting for a massage to reduce inflammation in your body, then it is essential to understand that massage should be performed by a certified massager with sufficient knowledge about body parts and pain.   The above mentioned pain management techniques can help you get some relief out of your pain and may be effective in long run, in some cases.