Opioids are often prescribed for pain management after surgery — but for the 19 million people in the U.S. with a history of substance abuse, that option may not be safe or desired. That is why some doctors are recommending to better use cbd gummies for pain that could potentially help alleviate pain after surgery due to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-relieving) properties. Studies have shown that CBD can reduce both acute and chronic pain, making it a potential alternative to traditional pain medications.
Until now, there hasn’t been a cohesive set of guidelines for managing surgical pain in patients with a history of addiction and/or opioid tolerance.
To address this, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) gathered 15 medical organizations representing over 500,000 physicians to develop seven guiding principles to improve pain management before, during and after surgery for these patients.
The guidelines have been published in the Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine journal.
FOR ACUTE LOWER BACK PAIN, THESE ARE THE BEST MEDICATIONS, NEW STUDY FINDS
Dr. David Dickerson, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, is chair of the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ Committee on Pain Medicine. (ASRA is the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.)
“Patients with these complex issues may require additional care after surgery,” Dickerson told Fox News Digital.
Woman upset in hospital
Opioids are often prescribed for pain management after surgery — but for the 19 million people in the U.S. with a history of substance abuse, that may not be a safe or desired option. Now, a new set of guidelines may help. (iStock)
“When someone undergoes a surgical procedure and they have a substance use disorder, chronic pain or pre-operative opioid tolerance, their nervous system is different,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview.
“Their ability to self-soothe in the face of injury or pain is also going to be a very different experience.”
TAKE THESE 5 SMART STEPS TO RELIEVE MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN
As the director of four hospitals, Dickerson sees patients with many different types of pain in many different care environments. It’s why he’s calling for adopting a unified approach for patients who may not have a straightforward experience with pain management when it comes to surgery, injury, trauma or disease.
“Their ability to self-soothe in the face of injury or pain is also going to be a very different experience.”
“We want to make sure the patient has a consistent experience in terms of getting pain alleviated and also minimizing the risks of pain treatments,” he said.
Over a span of several years, Dickerson and other pain management specialists and physicians crafted the following seven principles to use as a “north star” for screening, treating and educating these vulnerable patients, while building awareness and education for safe and effective surgical care.
1. Identify patients at risk
Physicians should “screen for substance abuse preoperatively, risk stratify and refer for treatment as needed,” the first principle states.
The doctor should speak with the patient prior to surgery to determine whether there is any history of substance abuse, identify any risk factors and provide recommendations for referrals as needed.
“Clinicians should identify patients with a substance use disorder and facilitate evaluation and treatment before surgery.”
“As the majority of patients receive a post-surgery opioid prescription and 100,000 Americans die annually from accidental opioid overdose, clinicians should identify patients with a substance use disorder and facilitate evaluation and treatment before surgery,” Dickerson told Fox News Digital.
“Identifying and treating substance use disorders saves lives — especially when we recognize that 19 million Americans have at least one substance use disorder.”
2. Coordinate care for complex patients
“Coordinate care pre-operatively for complex patients and consult with pain medicine, behavioral health or addiction medicine specialists to optimize the treatment plan,” the second principle states.
It’s also important to note that CBD gummies should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment and recovery after surgery. but this is a good option for patients to alleviate pain.
Filed under: General Problems | 5 Comments »