• Pills but no needle is often the road to addiction

    Pain Management Doctor

    The story of Peter

    The story of Peter. Peter had the unfortunate circumstance of being injured an automobile accident in Georgia. He was uninsured at the time of his accident. His lawyer was able to settle Peter’s case but after the lawyer took 40% of the gross personal injury settlement and negotiated lower fees for Peter’s doctors, the attorney had pocketed more money than Peter! Matters were made worse when, Peter continued to have chronic pain from his injuries. Peter was still uninsured and when he tried to obtain insurance, his monthly premium quotes were in the excess of $500a month. A cash visit to a Pain Management Doctor was less than $300 and would at least give him pain relief.

    During his Pain Management Therapy, Peter wasn’t able to afford injections such as epidurals, he wasn’t offered acupuncture and he had already had chiropractic during his original treatment with his auto accident. He stated:“I want to try something else. The chiropractor helped but I am still in pain.”Peter had a several visits with a physical therapist but became discouraged and angry saying “all they do is charge me to teach me exercises that I can do at home!” He had no primary care doctor due to lack of insurance. The Pain Management Specialist only offered Peter opiate pain pills since Peter couldn’t afford interventional treatments and the pain doctor didn’t perform acupuncture.

    Peter was able to continue to work construction and handyman jobs due to the relief provided by the pain pills. However, Peter became more physically dependent on the pain pills. After a while, Peter’s doctor became uncomfortable prescribing Peter higher doses of his medication. Peter then turned to marijuana and CBD oil to make up for the pain relief that the pills no longer provided. As a result, Peter tested positive for a urine drug screen and was discharged by his Pain Management Doctor.

    Peter was still unable to get insurance due to the high premiums and out right denials caused by his “preexisting condition” from his auto accident. After being discharged from his pain doctor’s office, Peter tried to enter another pain clinic. He was told things like “it’s a 4- 6 week wait to get in after we review your records” and “we only accept new pain patients by referral from other doctors”. Peter was still having pain and needed to work. He started obtaining pills on the street. He experimented with other forms of opiates and even tried Heroin. Peter’s drug used became more than a dependence he had crossed over into the realm of addiction. He was missing work to seek out drugs, resorting to selling drugs, stealing and other activities he could engage in to get the money to fuel his habit. Eventually, Peter lost his job, was homeless and had alienated his family due to his addiction. He finally hit rock bottom and overdosed on Fentanyl which was manufactured on the street to look like the Oxycodone he had been used to taking.

    While In the hospital, Peter was diagnosed with Hepatitis (apparently from his previous intravenous drug use). Upon discharge he was referred to Methadone treatment. Peter asked about Methadone alternatives but was told by his doctor there were none. Peter had heard about and occasionally used Suboxone during his time “on the streets”. Peter remembered Suboxone decreasing his cravings and making him feel“normal” without feeling groggy and short of breath like he did with methadone. Peter looked around and inquired about Opioid Treatment Centers and finally found a Suboxone Treatment Center where he could pay cash at a reasonable price. The Addiction Treatment in Georgia center was able to change Peter from methadone to Suboxone. Peter was also introduced to acupuncture to treat his chronic pain from the auto accident injuries. Peter was shocked at how much better he felt after a course of 10 acupuncture treatments. Peter said, “ I wish I had known about these needles before I took all those pills!”

    As Peter continued his Suboxone and Addiction Treatment in Georgia, he was eventually able to find work again. He started and continued counseling at a church nearby (as he couldn’t afford a professional counselor without insurance). Peter learned to cope with life’s ups and downs. He learned coping skills and how to avoid triggers. He even learned to tolerate the judgmental look he received from the pharmacist when he filled his Suboxone prescription. He found it odd and often chuckled to himself at the irony.Peter remembered it was the same look he received when he would get his Oxycodone prescription filled in the past.

    Eventually, Peter was old enough to obtain Medicare. He had lost homes, jobs family and had permanent liver damage. When he had his first Medicare exam he was offered opiates for his chronic pain. Peter refused stating he would “pay out of pocket” for acupuncture (which isn’t covered by Medicare). Peter’s Medicare doctor was always surprised by Peter’s insistence that acupuncture was controlling his pain. Despite Peter stating his pain was well controlled, Peters’ doctor continued to offer opiates. One day Peter finally became annoyed and asked: “Pills? Is that all you have? You do know that I have liver damage?, Right? Why do you keep trying to get me to take pills? Don’t you realize that the acupuncture needles have saved me from so much pain? If I had known about those needles I would have probably never taken the pills that got me into so much trouble!! WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DON”T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT!!!??

    Peter’s doctor said,“well we don’t have studies or insurance approval stating that acupuncture really works.” Peter became more upset and said” DO YOU THINK I NEED A STUDY TO TELL ME THAT MY PAIN IS BETTER? ACUPUNCTURE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND YOU ARE TALKING TO ME ABOUT STUDIES?? REALLY? REALLY? DO YOU EVEN KINOW ANYTHING ABOUT ACUPUNCTURE? Peter’s doctor then said, No I have not studied acupuncture. I am a medical doctor. Peter then said, acupuncture has got me “Pain Free without Pills”TM you doctors all have something to learn!

  • Medical Acupuncture, a Promising Solution to the Opioid Crisis

    Dr. Granger eBook
    Dr. Granger eBook

  • The Opioid Addiction Epidemic

    If you are struggling with opioid addiction, you are not alone. Thanks to skyrocketing levels of opioid prescriptions, addiction to these powerful drugs has become a national epidemic. Fortunately, opiate Addiction Treatment In Georgia can help you reclaim your life and see a future after substance abuse. Watch this video to learn more.

    Most people with Addiction have a similar path. They are prescribed an opioid painkiller to help them cope with the effects of surgery, an accident, or chronic pain, and then they become dependent on the substance. As their need for the medication grows, they can no longer get an adequate supply from their doctors. They then turn to buy drugs off the street or to use other, less expensive opiates to achieve the same effects, such as heroin. The only way to break the dangerous cycle is substance abuse treatment and an aftercare program to support long-term recovery.

    To discuss Opioid Addiction, Please Call Dr. Granger at our Opioid Treatment Centers in Marietta Georgia. Schedule Your Appointment Today! (678) 247-2115.

  • What Is Enabling Behavior? Addiction

    If you have a loved one who suffers from addiction, it’s important that you take the time to study your own behavior to ensure that you are not inadvertently enabling his or her addiction. Enabling means that you are preventing an addict from feeling the full consequences of dependence because you are taking on some of those consequences yourself. Because the addict is relieved from suffering the negative results of addictive behavior, he or she is not motivated to stop. Paying a person’s rent, making excuses for a person when he or she fails to meet their obligations, and giving a person money with no strings attached are all common examples of potentially enabling behavior. However, there are positive steps that you can take to help your loved one. Most importantly, you can encourage them to get help. Checking into an Addiction Treatment In Georgia is a productive first step toward ending addiction and asserting control over your life once again.

    Addiction Treatment In Georgia

  • A Closer Look at Opioid Medication Treatment

    For people who are addicted to opioids, enduring the effects of withdrawal can make it extremely difficult to quit. That’s why buprenorphine, widely marketed as Suboxone, has become such a popular treatment. By replicating the sensations of getting high on Opioid Medication Treatment, buprenorphine provides a temporary replacement that enables a person to stop taking the opioid. It’s essential, however, to take buprenorphine only under the guidance of a health professional. As this video shows, it’s easy for buprenorphine use to become its own kind of addiction. However, the opioid medication treatment has a very high success rate. If you are suffering from opioid addiction , contact a opioid addiction treatment services center in Marietta GA, for help.

  • Getting Started with Addiction Treatment

    Addiction Treatment And Recovery Services

    In Marietta GA and the Greater Atlanta area, substance abuse is a major problem. Many people struggling with opioid treatment centers aren’t sure how to go about getting help. If this describes you, you should know that there is drug addiction help available to you, but you need to take the first step to contact a clinic that offers this type of treatment. Addiction Treatment And Recovery Services

    Patient Education

    Before your appointment at the clinic, you should become informed about the nature of opiate addiction treatment. One common treatment method is the use of a class of medications known as opioid partial agonists . These are opioid medications that latch onto the same receptors in the brain as do opioid drugs. However, opioid partial agonists do not produce a feeling of euphoria. Instead, they work by blocking the unpleasant effects of drug withdrawal.

    Initial Therapy

    If this will be your first time receiving this type of addiction treatment and recovery services, then you should plan for a lengthy first appointment. The doctor will likely ask you to take a urine test to check for the presence of drugs. Then, you’ll be advised of the basics of the treatment program and how to use the medication. Your doctor will determine an appropriate dosage for you, but this dosage may need to be adjusted later.

    Dosage Administration

    This type of medication is available in different forms. One of the most common is a sublingual film, which is placed under the tongue and allowed to fully dissolve. Drink some water before placing the film under your tongue. When doing so, hold the film between your fingers by its outside edges and place the film close to the base of the tongue. Do not chew or swallow the film; allow it to fully dissolve.

    Ongoing Maintenance

    It’s likely that you’ll return to the clinic for follow-up appointments on a weekly basis until you’re in an established routine. After that, your follow-up appointments may become less frequent. Your urine may be randomly tested from time to time. If you experience any problems with the medication, such as side effects or decreased effectiveness, you should inform your doctor. This type of addiction treatment allows patients to work through other addiction therapies without suffering the ill effects of withdrawal.

  • Counting Down the Causes of Low T [INFOGRAPHIC]

    Low testosterone, or low T, is an extremely frustrating problem that is also exceedingly common. Men who suffer from low T experience a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including reduced muscle tone, low sex drive, fatigue, weight gain, and depression. Many different things can contribute to low T, and determining the underlying cause can be part of treating the problem. Alcoholism and opioid use are two significant contributing factors for low testosterone. Obesity, diabetes, infections, injuries, and corticosteroid use can also lead to low levels of testosterone. Find out more about the common causes of low T in this infographic from Altergyn, LLC . We provide bio-identical hormone replacement therapy in Marietta GA and for the Greater Atlanta area, so men suffering from low T can get symptom relief without the risk of other medical treatment options, like testosterone lotions. Make an appointment for medical care today if you are living with low T symptoms, and please share this information to help others learn about their options.

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  • The Link Between Opiate Use and Hormone Imbalances

    If you sustain severe car accident injuries, you may be prescribed opiate medications to control the pain. These potent painkillers are certainly useful for some people on a short-term basis. However, over time, they can create more problems than they resolve. Substance abuse in Marietta GA and the Greater Atlanta area may be partially attributed to individuals who began using opiates for legitimate purposes. In addition to the problem of opiate addiction , the long-term use of these drugs may disrupt the endocrine system.

    Opiates are powerful chemicals that can disrupt the levels of thyroid hormones. Cortisol and testosterone are other hormones that may develop imbalances due to long-term opiate use. The result can be chronic fatigue, depression, emotional instability, sleep disturbances, metabolic changes, and sexual dysfunction. When seeking treatment for opiate addiction, it may be necessary to consider hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy can help restore wellness and quality of life while you’re working to beat your addiction to opioids.

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