An Innovative Physical Therapy Intervention for Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Reduction Among People Living with HIV

Chronic pain management has become a treatment priority for people living with HIV (PLH), and PLH may be at increased risk for opioid addiction. Physical therapy (PT) has been shown to be effective as a nonpharmacological method of chronic pain management; however, there is a gap in research examining the role of PT for chronic pain, especially as it relates to opioid reduction, in this patient population. This retrospective study evaluated pain level and opioid use before and after PT intervention among HIV-positive adults with chronic pain on chronic opioid therapy (n = 22). The study was conducted at a multidisciplinary AIDS clinic in Atlanta, GA. Outcome measures were self-reported pain on the numerical rating scale (0–10) and morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs), which measure opioid use. A majority of patients (77%) demonstrated a decrease in pain by the conclusion of the study period; however, only 18.2% of patients reported decreased pain as well as a decrease in MMEs. The most common PT treatments used among the patients with a decrease in pain and/or opioid use included home exercise programs, manual therapy, and self-pain management education. Eighty percent of the participants who did not decrease opioid use reported a decrease or elimination of pain by the end of the PT intervention. This reflects the need for careful consideration of the complexity of opioid use and addiction, and the importance of a multidisciplinary team to best serve the needs of PLH aiming to decrease chronic pain and opioid use.