Chronic Pain and Addiction Treatment in Denver, CO
Integrated treatment for co-occurring chronic pain and substance use disorder in Denver and Lakewood, Colorado. Non-opioid pain management and addiction recovery working together.
The Connection Between Chronic Pain and Addiction
Chronic pain and addiction are among the most closely intertwined co-occurring conditions that addiction treatment providers encounter. For many people, substance use, particularly opioid use, began as a legitimate response to genuine physical pain. Over time, tolerance builds, the dose increases, and what began as pain management gradually becomes dependence. The pain is still real. The addiction is also real. Treating one without the other almost never works.
For others, the relationship runs in a different direction. Existing substance use can heighten pain sensitivity over time through a process called opioid-induced hyperalgesia, where the very medication meant to relieve pain ends up increasing it. Whatever direction the relationship runs, Denver Recovery's integrated program addresses both conditions at the same time, with a clinical approach that takes physical suffering seriously.
Our Approach to Chronic Pain and Addiction Treatment
Comprehensive Assessment of Both Conditions
Our intake assessment evaluates not just your substance use history but also your pain history, including the origin of the pain, previous treatments, and the relationship between pain and substance use as you have experienced it. This gives our clinical team the information they need to design a care plan that addresses both conditions honestly.
Non-Opioid Pain Management
For clients with chronic pain who are in recovery from opioid dependence, ongoing opioid use is not a viable pain management strategy. Denver Recovery incorporates evidence-based non-opioid approaches including physical therapy coordination, mindfulness-based pain reduction techniques, and non-opioid medication management where clinically appropriate.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Where Appropriate
For clients with opioid use disorder who have co-occurring chronic pain, Medication-Assisted Treatment using buprenorphine or naltrexone may be part of the treatment approach. Our clinical team evaluates MAT on an individual basis.
Learn moreAddressing the Psychological Dimension of Pain
Chronic pain is not only a physical experience. People with chronic pain are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety, and these conditions in turn amplify the experience of pain. Our integrated program includes therapeutic work on the psychological dimensions of chronic pain alongside recovery work.
Trauma-Informed Care
Chronic pain and trauma are frequently connected. Our trauma-informed approach ensures that the role of trauma in both the pain experience and the substance use is recognized and addressed as part of integrated treatment.
Serving Denver, Lakewood, and the Greater Colorado Region
Denver Recovery provides chronic pain and addiction treatment at our Denver and Lakewood locations, serving individuals from Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Golden, Jefferson County, and across the Colorado region. Our admissions team is happy to help you find the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions: Chronic Pain and Addiction Treatment
How are chronic pain and addiction connected?
Many people develop opioid dependence through legitimate pain treatment, where tolerance gradually develops. In other cases, substance use can worsen pain sensitivity over time. The psychological weight of living with chronic pain also creates vulnerability to substance use as a coping mechanism. Denver Recovery treats both the physical and psychological dimensions of this relationship.
Is pain management included in addiction treatment?
Yes. For clients with co-occurring chronic pain, pain management is an explicit part of the treatment plan. We work with each client to develop non-opioid pain management strategies that support both genuine relief and long-term sobriety.
What alternatives to opioids are used for pain?
Denver Recovery incorporates mindfulness-based pain reduction techniques, physical therapy coordination, non-opioid analgesic medications where appropriate, and therapeutic work on the psychological dimensions of chronic pain. The specific approaches depend on the nature of your pain condition and overall clinical picture.
Is this program covered by insurance?
In most cases, yes. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires most insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder treatment at the same level as physical health conditions. Denver Recovery verifies your insurance benefits before treatment begins so you understand your coverage from the start.
Next step
Take the First Step
If you are living with both chronic pain and a substance use disorder, you deserve care that takes both seriously. Denver Recovery's integrated program in Denver and Lakewood is here to help you find a path forward with clinical honesty and genuine compassion.