The negative consequences more than double when patients undergoing chronic pain management experience both addictive disorders and pain disorders.  Addictive disorders lead to one universe of biopsychosocial problems, and the pain disorders lead to a different set of problems.  1 + 1 no longer equals 2, rather 1+ 1 now equals 3 or more.  This [...]

In one of my articles posted to our Addiction-Free Pain Management® website I discussed the growing problem of prescription drug abuse and addiction.  However, despite what is being covered in the media only part of the problem is for people using this medication for legitimate chronic pain management.  There are also many people using prescription pain medication [...]

I have one real home. It is my body. No matter where I go, no matter what I do, my body is where I live. I might move into a new house, but I can’t move into a new body. For more than twenty years, I was at war with my body. I did not [...]

Living with chronic physical pain is very challenging.  I’ve been living with my own chronic pain management issues for over 26 years now and I’ve learned that psychological and emotional symptoms are the amplifier for the physical interpretation of pain.  In essence this is the difference between living with pain and suffering—I chose living. I [...]

Sometimes family and other significant others get burned out while at other times they become frustrated and resentful towards the person undergoing chronic pain management. A spouse can become as hopeless and helpless as the pain patient and may even develop a severe depressive disorder or sleep disorder as a result of what they are [...]

Those who fail to plan; plan to fail. This is especially true when it comes so someone undergoing long-term chronic pain management. It is important for people living with chronic pain to have a healthy support network in place as they undergo their chronic pain management journey. There are two crucial components of an effective [...]

I was very fortunate last week to spend 20 hours in prison.  Not to worry I was not incarcerated but rather there to do my part in the 270 hour alcohol/drug counselor training program that is being spearheaded by Options Recovery’s Tom Gorham.  Mr. Gorham is also the President Elect of CAADAC (California Association of [...]