Be More Mindful of Your Pain Meds for Better, Faster Healing

Pain meds – even the strongest opioids - are legitimate at certain times, but Americans tend to overuse all kinds of pain relievers. Much of this excessive intake is sustained by our culture’s lack of understanding. Incessant pro-drug advertising intends to keep you ignorant of the whole truth. Now is the time to flip the coin for the rest of the story, for a healthier perspective on the role of pain meds.

As a physical therapist, I frequently encounter patients who self-sabotage their physical recovery. Unknowingly, they delay or complicate their tissue’s healing by taking too much pain medication. By learning more about the healing process, patients can be more mindful of their pain meds, leading to better, faster healing.

First, let’s be clear. Your conscious mind is not in charge. Tissue healing happens at the subconscious level. So, this mindfulness effort is cooperative, not domineering or commanding. Instead of an egocentric, bull-headed approach, this strategy requires ultra-sensitivity, attunement, and respect for an inner authority.

Throughout your lifetime, you have observed your body heal. Simple skin injuries – bruises, cuts, scraps – undergo the same four healing phases as major injuries like overstretched ligaments, broken bones, and impinged nerves. For this reason, you will relate to some degree as a firsthand witness.

As the four phases are described below, the recommended use of pain meds is highlighted. Remember, this knowledge allows for smart, well-informed decisions to support your innate healing mechanisms.

Phase 1: Hemostasis

 The first phase minimizes blood loss at the injury site. Inevitably, blood vessels are damaged, and blood leaves the circulatory system, moving into nearby tissues. Within a few minutes, these vessels develop blood clots to quickly stop additional bleeding.

At the time of injury, pain may be unbearable. Yet because this phase is so short-lived, pain meds are not available to provide any relief, making their use irrelevant.

Phase 2: Inflammation

The second phase initiates the body’s immune response at the injury site. White blood cells enter the area to snuff out any foreign invaders and clean up any disabled cellular parts. The affected tissues become red, swollen, and painful.

This phase continues for up to 2 weeks, depending on the extent of tissue damage. Pain is normal and necessary throughout this phase to adequately protect the injured area. Pain meds are appropriate if the pain inhibits essential functions like sleeping and walking.

Phase 3: Proliferation

The third phase begins with the rebuilding of injured tissues, starting with blood vessels. Oxygen and nutrients are transported to the area, so new tissues are formed and specialized.

Since tissues are repaired at different rates, the timeline for this phase is highly variable, ranging from a few to several weeks. Throughout this process, pain is gradually lessening so the need for pain meds is trending down accordingly.

Phase 4: Remodeling

The final phase ensures tissue sustainability and functionality. To regain normal operation, the tissues are “beefed up and refined.”

Like proliferation, the duration of this phase varies on the tissues involved, lasting for a few weeks to several months. Pain is no longer expected; pain meds should be discontinued completely.

In summary, pain meds should only be taken during the early phases of healing, namely hemostasis and inflammation. If you still need pain relief in the later phases, you are obstructing your natural flow in some way. Following are three common misconceptions and behaviors that produce abnormal, ongoing pain and improper pain med consumption.

1.“No Pain, No Gain” Mentality: This training mantra does not apply when tissue healing is underway. As tissues heal, pain should never be intentionally induced. Often, overzealous athletes or other go-getters push too hard during proliferation and remodeling, causing the fragile, newly assembled tissue to become inflamed. Then they reach for the pain pill.

2. “Zero Pain” Mentality: This perspective is harmful as the healing process commences, specifically during inflammation. When all pain is zero-ed out with pain medication, its protective role is disabled and tissues are at risk for further irritation. Therefore, pain medication must be carefully dosed, so the pain is tolerable for basic activities yet provides an effective alarm for potential setbacks.    

3. “Feel Good” Mentality: This perception assumes that healing tissue is ready-to-go once the pain is gone. As the pain level decreases in the proliferation phase, returning to work or other regular activities can be irresistible. Unfortunately, skipping the last two healing phases sets the tissues up for failure. Incomplete healing leads to re-injury, re-injury leads to more pain, and more pain leads to unnecessary pain meds.

Notice how all three mentalities disturb the healing process. Notice how these decisions and actions obstruct efficient reconstruction of the body’s tissues. Instead of providing support, the mind is unaware and inadvertently causes trouble and more pain. And pills like ibuprofen or acetaminophen – worse yet hydrocodone or oxycodone  – become a mainstay in your purse or medicine cabinet.

Moving forward, be more mindful of your pain meds. If you lean on them too much, the quality of your physical recovery will be jeopardized. Instead, prevent healthy, acute pain from “going chronic” by recognizing this tendency as a red flag. Swiftly correct all erroneous mentalities and get on with optimal healing!