Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia Treatment at Driftwood Recovery: Managing Pain and Reducing Opioid Dependence

Opioid-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) is a condition where individuals experience a paradoxical increase in pain due to long term opioid therapy or high opioid doses. Rather than achieving relief, the opioid treatment’s effect triggers abnormal responses to ordinarily non painful stimuli, worsening the pain experienced over time.

At Driftwood Recovery, we specialize in treating individuals with opioid-induced hyperalgesia and substance use disorder, using a combination of evidence-based pain management and holistic approaches to reduce pain, reverse opioid tolerance, and help clients heal.

What Is Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia (OIH)?

OIH is an induced hyperalgesia caused by prolonged opioid administration, where exposure to opioids such as morphine or methadone heightens pain sensation rather than alleviating it. Although clinical relevance remains debated in some meta analysis reviews, a growing body of literature, including studies published in Pharmacol Exp Ther, Eur J Pharmacol, and Palliat Med, supports its impact on patients receiving long term opioid care.

Research shows that OIH can result from:

• Changes in central nervous system signaling
• N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation
• Intracellular protein kinase pathway disruption
• Descending facilitation via the rostral ventromedial medulla

These proposed mechanisms disrupt analgesic effect and contribute to analgesic tolerance, particularly among opioid addicts, patients with chronic pain, or those in perioperative settings.

Signs and Symptoms of OIH

Opioid hyperalgesia is often difficult to distinguish from original pain or disease progression. However, a trained pain physician can evaluate for symptoms such as:

• Worsening pain despite increasing doses of opioids
• Pain spreading to new areas without explanation
• Heightened response to painful stimuli or even ordinarily non painful stimuli
• Generalized pain symptoms beyond the site of the original underlying pain

These symptoms may occur in patients being treated for chronic nonmalignant pain, neuropathic pain, postoperative pain, cancer-related pain, or conditions such as sickle cell disease during vaso-occlusive crisis.

Risk Factors and Contributing Conditions

Several factors increase the likelihood of developing opioid-induced pain sensitivity:

• Long term opioid therapy or escalating opioid dose
• Clinical opioid therapy for chronic non cancer pain
• Co-occurring mental health disorders or opioid addiction
• Inappropriate opioid rotation without monitoring
• High opioid consumption in acute pain or cancer pain settings
• Use of opioids in healthy volunteers without clear medical need

As noted in Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol and Trends Pharmacol Sci, repeated exposure to opioids can dysregulate brain res pathways responsible for processing pain sensation.

Treating Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia at Driftwood Recovery

Treatment of OIH focuses on reducing opioid exposure, managing pain symptoms, and restoring the body’s ability to process pain naturally. Driftwood Recovery uses a multidisciplinary approach to care, including:

1. Tapering and Detox

Gradually reducing or discontinuing opioid use under medical supervision to reverse analgesic tolerance and lower opioid tolerance levels.

2. Alternative Pain Management

We replace opioids with non-addictive strategies for pain symptom manage, including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for chronic pain
• Massage therapy, yoga, meditation, and acupuncture
• Physical therapy, chiropractic care, and biofeedback
• Non-opioid medications for neuropathic pain and inflammation

3. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

We use medications like methadone or buprenorphine when appropriate, alongside therapy to support recovery from opioid misuse.

4. Pain Reprocessing Therapy

Emerging techniques based on comprehensive reviews of OIH in the American Journal of pain medicine, designed to retrain the brain’s perception of painful stimuli.

Improving Quality of Life While Managing Chronic Pain

Our goal is to reduce reliance on opioids while helping clients cope with abnormal pain and return to a more functional life. Driftwood Recovery’s clinicians understand the challenges of opioid treatment’s effect on the nervous system and offer tailored plans to treat opioid-induced hyperalgesia OIH and related conditions.

By integrating pain and addiction treatment, we address not only the pain experienced, but also the psychological and emotional toll of chronic pain.

Driftwood Recovery provides opioid-induced hyperalgesia treatment to individuals around Austin, Texas. To learn more about our programs and how we can help you heal from OIH, call our office today at (512) 759-8330.