Living with chronic pain can feel isolating and overwhelming. For many people, medicine is part of managing daily discomfort, but it can raise real concerns about side effects, dependence and whether it is working.
Common concerns about pain medicine
Patients often come to us with good questions.
“Will I become addicted?” This is a common and understandable fear. Our approach is responsible prescribing with careful monitoring, which aims to lower this risk.
“What are the side effects?” All medicines can have side effects. We explain the possible side effects and how to manage them, so you can weigh the benefits and risks.
“Is this medicine really working for me?” It is easy to feel stuck on a medicine that is not giving enough relief. Medication management includes regular check-ins and adjustments to your plan.
“Are there alternatives to opioids?” Yes. Opioids may be appropriate for some people, but they are far from the only option. We look at a range of medicine and non-medicine treatments.
What to expect at our Frisco office
Medication management is a central part of our care. The approach has four parts:
- A thorough first visit. Your provider takes time to understand your pain history, lifestyle, medical conditions and past treatments.
- A plan built around you. There is no one-size-fits-all answer for chronic pain. Your plan considers your diagnosis, pain levels, overall health and personal goals.
- Ongoing monitoring. We watch how you respond, manage side effects and adjust your plan. This includes regular follow-up visits and, when appropriate, toxicology lab testing to confirm medicines are being taken as prescribed and to look for interactions.
- Education. We explain each medicine, including its purpose, how to take it, possible side effects and what to expect, so you can take an active part in your care.
Medicine options we may use
Our prescribing may include several medicine types, each used with care:
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are often a first choice for inflammatory pain.
- Antidepressants and anticonvulsants were first made for other conditions but can help with nerve pain and some chronic pain conditions.
- Muscle relaxants are used for muscle spasms and related pain.
- Topical pain medicines (creams, gels and patches) deliver medicine to the area of pain and may cause fewer whole-body side effects.
- Opioids may be used when other options are not enough, under strict protocols with careful dosing and monitoring.
- Other treatments may be used along with medicine, such as interventional procedures like injections or nerve blocks and lifestyle changes. These may help reduce the need for long-term medicine for some patients.
Talk to our Frisco team
If you have questions about managing pain with medicine, we are glad to talk with you. Read more about our medication management care and how we treat back pain and muscle pain, then book an appointment or contact us.