Addiction Care · 3 min read · Updated November 13, 2026
Having opioid use disorder does not make chronic pain less real. You deserve a plan that addresses both pain and recovery, with clinicians communicating about medications and goals. Trying to manage one problem while hiding the other can create gaps, conflicting instructions, and unnecessary risk.
Describe function as well as pain intensity
Tell the clinician where pain occurs, how it changes, what has been tried, and which activities matter most. Examples include sleeping through part of the night, sitting through work, walking to a bus stop, or caring for a child. Concrete goals can make follow-up more useful than asking whether pain has completely disappeared.
Bring records when available, but do not postpone seeking care because your paperwork is incomplete. Include treatments that helped only a little and treatments you could not continue because of cost, side effects, transport, or scheduling.
Ask for an integrated treatment discussion
CDC’s opioid-prescribing guideline states that people with pain and opioid use disorder still need ongoing pain management. It discusses appropriate nonopioid medicines and nonmedication approaches as part of individualized care. These options should be chosen for the actual condition, not offered as a dismissive substitute for assessment.
Ask who will coordinate primary care, pain care, and addiction treatment. Our guide to opioid-use-disorder medications can help explain your current treatment to another clinician. Do not stop that medication or change its schedule on your own to make room for pain medicine.
Make a plan before procedures or flare-ups
Tell surgeons, dentists, and emergency clinicians about buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone, and every other medicine you take. Ask for a coordinated plan before an anticipated procedure. If you receive naltrexone, its effect on opioid pain treatment is particularly important to discuss.
Ask who to call during a pain flare and when urgent evaluation is needed. A new symptom should not automatically be attributed to an old pain problem or addiction. Do not borrow medicines, combine sedatives, or return to a previous opioid amount because the current plan feels inadequate.
Address trust and practical barriers directly
You can say, “I am worried my pain will be dismissed, and I also want to protect my recovery.” Ask the clinician to explain decisions and record a clear plan you can share with the rest of the team. CDC recommends evidence-based medication treatment for opioid use disorder; pain concerns should not become a reason to abandon that care.
Confirm follow-up dates, medication responsibilities, and how prescriptions will be reconciled after hospital visits. Our appointment-preparation guide can help organize the information. A coordinated plan reduces the need for you to act as the only messenger between services while coping with pain.
Sources & further reading
General educational information. This guide is not a substitute for advice from a qualified treatment professional.
