Most people have to undergo surgery at some point in their life, which can be intimidating due to the unknown. Although surgery is challenging to undergo, it can be even more stressful if you’re sober and are afraid to relapse due to the medications you’re prescribed. You may have more fear of relapsing than of the pain and discomfort involved in your recovery from surgery. Fortunately, it’s possible to stay clean and sober through surgery with the right steps followed. You can improve your health and well-being with the procedure while also avoiding developing an addiction to the medication you take in the weeks or months following the surgery while working with a medical professional.
Communicate with Your Doctor
Remain open and honest with your doctor to ensure they learn about your history with addiction and are aware of your risk of relapsing if you take certain medications. They can get a better understanding of your concerns about pain management to ensure they can consider adjusting your pain management. They can determine how to provide you with the best level of care based on your situation and find other ways of offering you pain management.
Obtain a Shorter Prescription
One of the most effective ways to alleviate the pain and discomfort you experience following surgery is to obtain a prescription that is shorter. This will allow you to take the prescribed medication when you need it most and stop taking it when you’ve started to heal and are in less pain. Many people have developed addictions to opioids due to prescriptions that were handed out too liberally by doctors. Remain proactive about protecting your health and safety and request a prescription that is half or a fraction of the time that your doctor gives you.
Evaluate the Difference Between Pain and Discomfort
It can be easy to frequently reach for prescription medication when you’re not as comfortable as you’re used to after your surgery. Although you may not feel like yourself, it’s important to only take the prescription medication when you really need it to avoid abusing it. Consider how you feel and learn how to differentiate between discomfort and pain. If you’re in a lot of pain that becomes distracting and makes it difficult to focus, it’s time to take medication. If you don’t feel 100% but are still able to perform different types of movements or activities, you may not need to take medication and can opt for an over-the-counter pain reliever that takes the edge off during the recovery process.
Follow Your Recovery Plan
Follow your recovery plan to reduce the risk of relapsing and developing an addiction to your pain killers. This may require meeting with your sponsor each week to discuss how you’re feeling and how often you’ve needed to take the prescription medication. You can also continue to attend support groups that allow you to remain focused on maintaining sobriety and remain focused on why you’ve chosen to overcome addiction. Rely on your sober network in the weeks leading up to the surgery and in the weeks or months following it to ensure you have the accountability you need. Communicate your plans to undergo surgery to ensure they can check in with you. Your doctor may not understand your journey or struggles, which is why it’s necessary to stay connected to the people who have helped you achieve sobriety.
Ask Someone Else to Administer Your Medication
You can always ask someone you trust to give you your medication when you’re supposed to take it after you return home from your surgery. This can allow you to have accountability with how often you take the pain killers and can reduce the risk of relapsing. The other person should be someone you trust who doesn’t struggle with addiction. They can hide the prescription medication to prevent you from having access to it as you recover. You can have peace of mind knowing someone else is available to help you recover without increasing your dosage and can monitor how often you take the medication while working with your doctor. Reach out to our team today at 844-844-3463 to obtain help for addiction.