At Waypoint Recovery Center, we know that pain goes beyond the physical. Neverending pain, from debilitating migraines to intense muscle aches, may feel like an endless, distracting burden that makes even the simplest tasks overwhelming. Whether it stems from past injuries, a health condition, aging, or stress, chronic pain can affect every part of your life. It may even drive you or a loved one to cope with substances like marijuana, alcohol, or opioids.
For many, the journey to recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) can feel similar to the uphill battle against long-term pain. Our residential treatment programs in South Carolina can help clients navigate complications from both challenges, offering support for those ready to heal from the physical, mental, and emotional setbacks of SUD and chronic pain.
What is Chronic Pain?
Chronic pain lasts longer than three months. The pain can be dull, sharp, intense, or uncomfortable. It can be annoying at best and severely debilitating at worst. Conditions like arthritis, nerve damage, or past surgeries may trigger chronic pain. Chronic pain may have no clear cause in other cases, appearing and disappearing randomly.
Common symptoms and types of chronic pain can include:
- Long-term lower back or joint pain
- Tingling or burning nerve pain
- Severe headaches or migraines
- Fibromyalgia-triggered pain or pain that results from past injuries
- Sleep issues like insomnia
- Psychological distress
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Chronic pain is a common condition in the United States, and South Carolina is no exception. Many doctors prescribe strong pain medications, including opioids, to manage intense pain, but these treatments carry risks if not carefully managed. Physical therapy, stress management, and alternative treatments like massage or meditation may be other effective treatments.
Why Chronic Pain Is Common in Recovery
There are a couple of reasons for the prevalence of chronic pain in recovery. Firstly, we know that many doctors feel comfortable prescribing strong opioid medications to patients suffering from chronic pain. Unfortunately, people can grow to depend on these medications and form unhealthy attachments with the substance.
Secondly, many people with chronic pain may turn to substances like alcohol or other drugs for relief. While those substances may help initially, the body may rely on drugs to manage their pain over time, further complicating their life with SUD symptoms. Research shows that clients with chronic pain run higher risks of developing a substance use disorder, as well as mental health struggles like depression and anxiety.
Living with untreated pain can also generate stress that may make unhealthy substance use more probable:
- Inability to keep up with daily responsibilities like work, cooking, cleaning, childcare, or even necessities like bathing and walking
- More stress, feelings of isolation, and irritation
- Higher risk of substance relapse for clients in recovery
- Greater risk for suicide and depression
Where Substance and Chronic Pain Recovery Meet
Recovery from both chronic pain and substance use requires a combination of resilience, life skills, a support network, and tailored treatment plans. Many of the same strategies that help with SUD recovery—such as individual therapy, mindfulness, and regular exercise—can also improve pain and make managing stress in recovery more feasible.
Building these dual-effective skills in recovery may mean:
- Learning stress-reducing techniques and healthy coping mechanisms in individual therapy
- Leaning on strong social support from friends, family, and group therapy
- Staying active with physical therapy or gentle movement
- Staying educated and aware of the newest ways to enrich recovery and manage pain without harmful substances
At Waypoint, clients learn coping skills that reduce stress and promote healing, helping them regain control of their recovery journey—whether or not chronic pain continues to be an issue.
Finding Relief from Pain and Substances in Cameron
If chronic pain and substance use have taken control of your life, it’s time to seek help. Neither has to be battled separately. While you work to get your SUD under control, you’re also actively working to improve your chronic pain condition. After you graduate from inpatient treatment, our intensive outpatient program (IOP) in North Charleston can be the next step toward receiving more customized care that addresses both struggles.
IOP treatment goes beyond symptom management, offering fundamental strategies to improve well-being and daily life as you experience it. Healing is possible, and support is available for those ready to take their first step to regain independence from pain and the drugs that hurt them. Contact us today to explore a new path toward relief, recovery, and a future where pain no longer defines you.
