Opioid Addiction and Muscle Health: The Overlooked Link in Recovery
Opioid addiction doesn’t just affect the brain—it affects the entire body, especially the musculoskeletal system. At RPI, we’ve worked with patients who’ve suffered not only from pain but from the long-term physical consequences of opioid dependence. One of the most common, yet often overlooked, side effects of opioid use is muscle pain, weakness, and even muscle loss.
For some patients, the cycle starts with an injury. Pain becomes constant, and medication becomes the easiest way to cope. But over time, the body starts to break down. Muscles weaken from disuse. The pain never fully goes away. And the original injury becomes just one piece of a much bigger problem.
One patient we worked with came to us after years of battling chronic back pain. What started as a minor strain from lifting at work had spiraled into long-term opioid use. They weren’t just dealing with pain anymore—they were struggling with limited mobility, loss of strength, and a body that no longer moved the way it used to. They had reached a point where daily tasks felt impossible. They didn’t know where to begin. That’s when they turned to physical therapy in Saint Louis.
The Physical Toll of Opioids on Muscle Health
Long-term opioid use has a profound impact on muscle health. These medications are known to reduce testosterone levels, which can contribute to muscle wasting and fatigue. They also mask pain symptoms without addressing the root cause, which often leads to physical inactivity. Over time, muscles begin to atrophy from disuse, and balance, coordination, and posture can suffer.
Opioids may also alter the body’s pain signaling system, causing increased sensitivity to pain—a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia. That means patients might actually experience more pain over time, even while continuing to take medication. It’s a frustrating, exhausting cycle that many people find themselves stuck in.
Rebuilding Strength Through Movement
At RPI, we help patients break that cycle. Our approach starts by meeting people where they are—physically, emotionally, and functionally. Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, but with the right plan, it does happen.
For patients recovering from opioid addiction, therapy focuses on rebuilding strength, flexibility, and confidence in movement. It often begins with simple exercises to activate underused muscles, relieve tension, and improve circulation. As mobility improves, we introduce core strengthening, postural retraining, and functional movements that help patients return to everyday tasks safely.
Physical therapy offers a drug-free path forward. It addresses pain at its root, helps restore physical independence, and supports the body’s natural healing systems. For those transitioning off opioids, it also provides structure, support, and a sense of progress that can be deeply motivating.
A Better Way to Heal
The patient mentioned earlier completed several months of physical therapy at our clinic. By the end of their plan, they had regained much of the strength they thought they had lost for good. They were able to return to work and, more importantly, they were living with less pain—without relying on medication.
This kind of recovery is possible. But it takes the right approach, the right timing, and a team that understands both the physical and emotional aspects of healing.
At RPI, we believe that recovery should restore—not just manage—your ability to live fully. Whether you’re rebuilding from an injury or from years of medication use, we’re here to help you reclaim strength, movement, and hope.