Try an Integrated Approach to Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain is not an easy diagnosis to make, and the best treatments are an integrated approach to chronic pain management. In addition to injectable therapies a patient may use adjunctive therapies such as massage and chiropractic treatment. Chronic pain management may be most effective with a combination of medicinal and complementary interventions. There are both physical and psychological advantages to combining methods and using an integrated approach to chronic pain management.

Benefits of Integrated Approaches

Massage may be described as soft tissue manipulation administered by a trained therapist for therapeutic purposes. Along with heat and cold therapy and an emphasis on adequate hydration, massage can provide extended benefits to chronic pain sufferers. Massage can improve circulation and reduce inflammation, a significant cause of discomfort. Other benefits of massage may be improved sleep and decreased tension. Increased endorphin levels can also relieve anxiety and help promote recovery.

Chiropractic therapy can encompass a variety of treatment. Spinal manipulation is widely recognized as a means of alleviating pressure in areas afflicted with pain. Relief can be felt in those with lumbar herniated disk and neck pain. Chronic pain management that incorporates chiropractic treatment can reduce nerve irritability and restore a greater range of motion. Applications may include mobilization, or the stretching and strengthening of muscles. Ultrasound and hydrotherapy may be used as well. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) may help block the transmission of pain while simultaneously releasing pain-killing endorphins.

Another element of holistic pain management is an attention to the daily components that make up a patient’s world. Ergonomics is the study of design in relation to the body’s needs and physiology. Taking steps to improve posture, replace bad chairs, and reorganize workstations to support better movement help to diminish the environmental factors that contribute to chronic pain.

By using an integrated approach to chronic pain management, lingering pain may be noticeably less painful. Traditional medicinal treatments may be combined with complementary therapies to help alleviate pain and keep it at bay. An ongoing program of massage and chiropractic treatments, along with appropriate changes to work stations and activities to support proper alignment, may produce the most effective plan to eradicate persistent pain.

By Dr. James  Lin
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