The CDC and President Obama have made recent pushes to help curb a growing addiction to pain killers. They've called it an epidemic.
The Pain Management Program at Nebraska Medicine aims to fight chronic pain without drugs.
John Bezy says he dealt with years of crippling, chronic back pain. It made it difficult to have a positive outlook on life.
"Some days it was so bad I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. Other days, I'd get out of bed, and it'd take me about 15 minutes to get my shoes on, I couldn't bend over, the pain was so bad," according to Bezy.
He tried various medications like Oxycodone and Perocet. He says after time they did not work and they brought unwanted side effects like fogginess.
He turned to Nebraska Medicine for help. He took part in the 4-week Pain Management Program. Bezy says he was dubious at first.
Giuseppe Siracusano is a physical therapist with the program. He says pain can enslave the brain and make it impossible to focus on anything but what hurts. He says they teach patients how to use exercise, physical therapy and education to deal with the pain.
"We're designed to help persons who have done everything reasonably and financially possible for getting rid of their pain, but they're experiencing pain but also mainly the disability from that pain," Siracusano said.
After taking part in the program, Bezy is off all his meds. He often logs seven miles of walking a day with his dogs. He says he can now look to the future instead of being blinded by the pain. He recommends the program to others who feel trapped by their pain.
