Maverick Medical Education

History

Drug and narcotic use has a long history through civilization, in recreational terms and in emergent medical fields. During the Civil War in America, opioid usage became standard as field doctors were desperate for ways to relieve pain and ease patients into death as they treated and cared for hundreds of wounded soldiers. An epidemic began as the prescription of opioids increased the reliance on these drugs. According to the Smithsonian, over 10 million opioid pills were prescribed to soldiers on the Union side of the war alone. Pleased with the results shown in relieving pain, doctors began to prescribe opioids, both in pill form and injected subcutaneously, for a variety of maladies including menstrual cramps, morning sickness, anxiety, and dysentery. The use of opioids was prevalent and far-reaching.

Misuse

What doctors failed to realize early on, as they sought relief for their patients, was the nature of opioids and the detrimental effects those chemicals have on your brain. Opioids bind to receptors in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting pain signals. They also activate reward areas of the brain by releasing the hormone dopamine, creating a feeling of euphoria or a “high” as cited by cnn.com. Blocking this pain can be beneficial, but opioids do not block the pain similarly every time they are used. Instead, habitual users have to increase their dosage in order to experience the same pain relief and high that they grow accustomed to feeling. As their dosage increases, a cycle of reliance and larger usage, whether by amount, frequency, or both, occurs. The opioid crisis is not limited to casual drug abuse on the streets; in fact, a large amount of opioid reliance begins in our own medical practices.

Our Response

The impact of opioid usage is devastating on families, the economy, and the individual. When we sought out to learn more ourselves about treating pain without the use of opioids, we found a lack of resources available in regards to chronic pain and the management of that pain. Thus, our Chronic Pain Management Courses, which is split into three parts, came into existence. Our skills and knowledge are not exclusive rights we want held within the walls of our offices, instead, we want to make this information accessible to medical professionals who desire change in their communities and the ways they offer pain relief to their patients. Our Chronic Pain Management Courses cover a multitude of assessment techniques, steroid injection and nerve block options, and other components of patient care like using ultrasound or cryotherapy. These courses, with academic content available ahead of time, to be learned at your own pace, followed by in person methods training, can be taken to increase the level of care you are able to provide in your clinic or medical setting.

 

Our Mavericks have years of experience to lean on and for you to gain from. To learn more about the courses at Maverick Medical Education and to discover the ways we can help you learn more about alternate pain management techniques, check out our courses today. If you have further questions, feel free to contact us.

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