35% of people in recovery live with chronic pain. Effective non-opioid management is possible, evidence-based, and recovery-compatible.
Educational information only. Always discuss treatment changes with your healthcare provider. Being in recovery is critical information your entire care team needs to know.
Understanding Your Pain
Chronic pain and addiction share overlapping brain pathways. Long-term opioid use can actually sensitize the nervous system — causing more pain over time. Understanding your pain type is the first step toward targeting it effectively.
35%
of people in recovery have chronic pain
2–3×
higher pain sensitivity after opioid dependence
70%
report significant relief from non-opioid approaches
The Opioid-Pain Cycle
Pain begins
Chronic pain signals saturate the nervous system
Opioids introduced
Relief is real — but tolerance builds within weeks
Hyperalgesia develops
The brain becomes more sensitive to pain, not less
Withdrawal amplifies pain
Stopping opioids causes a rebound pain surge
Breaking the cycle
Non-opioid treatments reset pain pathways over time
Pain Types
Body Map
Tap a region to learn more about pain in that area. Use the Journal tab to log your daily pain location.
Tap your body to select pain location