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I would say that it largely depends on the cause of the chronic pain. There are indeed some situations where pain meds are the only option and opioids are powerful. But these are the minority of chronic pain cases.In the US opioids are way over-prescribed. They are literally shortening the average American lifespan. Opioid ODs cut US life expectancy by 2½ monthsBut there are ways to manage certain kinds of chronic pain (or even alleviate it entirely) that don’t involve opiates. The trouble is that many people have had it absolutely pounded into their head that “no pills = my doctor is consigning me to a life of pain and isn’t responding appropriately to my needs.”Chronic pain is a real thing. However, again, chronic pain is something that occurs around the world. So why is the US experiencing a shortened life expectancy due to opioid use when this isn’t happening in other developed countries?Oh, look. It’s the screwed up American medical system and it’s corollaries. That’s why.First, In some cases, physical therapy can be a very effective way to deal with and alleviate chronic pain. However, physical therapy costs more money than pills. Unsurprisingly, a lot of low-income insurance plans will not cover extensive physical therapy routines. But they will cover pills.This is a problem.Additionally, physical therapy requires a lot of work and often discomfort on the part of the patient. In order for physical therapy to, you know, do anything for you, you actually have to go to the sessions. There are people who would, frankly, rather take happy pills because it’s easier and more enjoyable. Also a problem.I think that the “laziness” in this instance is also directly tied to what seems to be a uniquely American belief that a doctor is supposed to be able to fix everything that’s wrong with you and fix it now. Physical therapy does not fix the problem right away and may cause additional discomfort before results are attained.There are other forms of therapy that can work for pain relief: massage, acupuncture, chiropractors (though a lot of chiropractors are also loons). These things are also usually not covered by any but the most Cadillac of insurance plans.As a corollary to this, the most commonly-affected demographic here is white and lacks a college education. The U.S. Opioid EpidemicThe vast majority of those who overdose on opioids are non-Hispanic white Americans, who make up more than 80 percent of the annual total. Non-Hispanic black Americans and Hispanic Americans each account for about 10 percent of cases. Economists Anne Case and Angus Deaton have argued that the rise in what they call “deaths of despair,” which include drug overdoses, particularly among white Americans without college degrees, are primarily the result of wages stagnating over the last four decades and a decline in available jobs.This demographic is unlikely to have access to high-caliber health coverage. They are likely not going to be able to afford extensive physical therapy or alternative methods of pain management. Pills are cheap and they are easy. And then people get addicted.The other problem with having pills around in the house is that it’s easy for others to access them. Even in the cases where chronic pain requires opioids for management, it’s not exactly hard for another member of the household to get ahold of them for their own personal use. I have known several people who do opioids for recreation rather than pain management. And then people get addicted.In my opinion, there needs to be a lot more emphasis put on non-pill-based pain relief.Also, it’s absolutely positively ridiculous that opioids can be openly prescribed but marijuana can’t. Marijuana is still a drug, and it does affect your judgement, but millions of Americans aren’t dying because of marijuana use. And it is very effective for pain management. When I got into my motorcycle accident back in 2015, I got an opioid prescription as a matter of course. I didn’t end up taking them because I actually hate the way opioids make me feel… but it’s absolutely disturbing that this stuff gets dispensed like candy but medical marijuana requires ridiculous hoops to get and you can’t get it everywhere.So, basically, no, it’s not necessarily unfair. There are people out there who suffer from chronic pain that could effectively be managed by other non-opioid means. Opioids should be an absolute last resort, which they currently clearly are not.

You have a few options (IANAD):Take breaks every hour and stretch your shoulders and neck. You can find an app that reminds you to take breaks here: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-free-apps-to-help-remind-you-to-take-a-break/Ask your boss, or human resources, for an ergonomic evaluation. In the U.S. at least, they have to give you one. The ergonomic specialist will help you change your keyboard/desk/chair/monitor setup to reduce pain.Your doctor can give you a prescription for physical therapy. The physical therapist can teach you stretches and exercises to treat and reduce neck pain. Alternative forms of physical therapy include Pilates or restorative yoga. Be sure and mention your neck pain to the instructor.Drugs. Try Tylenol and Advil and see how it helps. If that doesn't work, you can get stronger stuff from your doctor. You might also try Icy Hot.

I started having crippling pain in 2011 intermittently. It has slowly progressed since then to the point where I am currently labeled as a chronic pain patient, and therefore my only option was to seek out pain management as I had exhausted my resources with my local doctor and specialists because they could only help me short-term.I’m going to say first that personally medication has been one of the best interventions. In the beginning I could get by with Tylenol and Ibuprofen and then tramadol when I needed something more. I also was treating the underlying causes with other non-pain medications but that usually has limitations. I have found narcotics work best for me but I am starting to get tolerant - my pain management doctor I just started seeing has written for 5mg of oxycodone every six hours if needed and it hasn’t been enough. Before I started pain management, I tried medicinal marijuana in the form of an edible and it was amazing how much it helped. Unfortunately the law has not yet fully been established in my state yet so it’s not technically legal and therefore I cannot continue to use it. I must say that it was amazing how a tiny amount could easily replace 20+ pills.Besides prescription meds, some over the counter ones that I’ve tried include the tylenol and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) and helps a lot with muscle pain, joint pain, and swelling. It can also be good for after surgical procedures if a doctor clears you to take it because it helps that inflammation. There are other things out there that can be used such as Icy Hot patches and creams and tens-units, which are available on the market now without a prescription.As for techniques that don’t require medication, there are a few things that have worked for me depending on the problem. The first thing is to try and identify the source of the problem if you haven’t already so that you have a proper diagnosis and can also rule out things that are life-threatening. I have found that just having a diagnosis takes away some of the burden. It’s also important to understand that most chronic pain patients aren’t able to get their pain to a 0 on the scale of 1–10. When you accept that, it’s easier to work with your pain as you can find a suitable level of pain that you are at peace with (maybe a 3 or 4 for example).Things that have helped me personally include:Distraction: Listening to music, watching Netflix, hobbies such as coloring or making bracelets, and writing have been my own personal distractions to help get my mind of the pain.Self-care: Eating nutritious food, making sure you are hydrated, taking a warm shower or bath, and staying on top of your personal hygiene can help your body feel more relaxed and also give it the energy it needs to fight the things it’s going through.Support: It helps to have the support of friends and family and also having them understand what you are going through, but a lot of people with chronic issues tend to feel like they don’t have support. Another way to find support is through Facebook groups or other places on the internet that are focused on pain or a specific illness. Being able to interact with people who are going through something similar is incredibly valuable. There are also a lot of support groups offered in “real-life” for chronic pain and other illnesses. If you are in the US, you can sometimes find information on these in your local newspaper.Therapy: Both physical therapy and emotional therapy can be beneficial. Physical therapy will strengthen your muscles and help improve circulation as well as other things and you can even exercise on your own if you feel up to it and have clearance from a doctor. Something as simple as walking can make a huge difference. Regular therapy can also be incredibly beneficial as you can learn coping skills and breathing exercises that work for you as well as have an outlet to talk about what’s going on. There are even therapists who specialize in pain management and ones who focus on specific illnesses so you might be able to find someone who has an understanding of what could help you most.Chronic pain can take a massive toll on a person and having coping skills is incredibly important in dealing with it. I hope you are able to find some relief along the way.