Can Opioids Make Pain Worse & How to Get Help

Can Opioids Make Pain Worse & How to Get Help

A patient shared this story and this question with me a few weeks ago: “I’ve been working with a doctor to find a solution for my back pain for the past two years. I tried every treatment in the book from physical therapy, to ibuprofen, to cortisone...
What is the Difference Between Addiction and Dependence?

What is the Difference Between Addiction and Dependence?

Dr Craig Swainey, who specializes in Addiction Medicine and is also in long-term recovery himself, responds to a question that we are often asked here at the Coleman Institute: What is the difference between drug addiction and dependence?   The Difference Between...
When Pain Medication Becomes a Dependency

When Pain Medication Becomes a Dependency

Eve, age 46, is a long-time nurse. When she was younger and working in the hospital, she was helping an obese patient from bed to their wheelchair. The patient became unsteady, and when Eve reached to steady the patient, the patient fell, pulling and twisting Eve’s...
Adam’s Opioid Addiction and Recovery Story

Adam’s Opioid Addiction and Recovery Story

I have written this before in many blogs, and (as long as I continue to write) this will remain a constant: my inspiration comes directly from our patients. Although I change personal details to protect their privacy, the core of their stories is what moves me and...