Complementary Treatments for Chronic Pain
Do you have chronic pain? If so, then you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Health, almost 50 million American adults have chronic pain. Chronic pain can be quite debilitating and sap both your energy and well-being. Luckily there are complementary treatments for chronic pain in order to limit the amount of pain felt.
What can you do to manage chronic pain? There are a number of effective treatment. When used with medications and other interventions for pain, complementary treatments are highly effective. Complementary treatments for chronic pain are therapies that are used in conjunction with conventional treatments. Complementary therapies include a wide variety of treatments, such as vitamin supplements, yoga, relaxation, exercise and many others.
In the past ten years, there has been strong research evidence for the benefits of alternative therapies. These treatments are an excellent adjunct to traditional medications and interventions. They can help you lead a happier and fuller life. Combining complementary therapies may allow you to reduce the dose of your pain medications or, in some cases, alleviate your pain. Alternative therapies also provide you with the ability to actively assist with your pain management. Here are some of the most effective complementary treatments for pain.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps individuals identify and change thoughts and behaviors that contribute to poor pain management. By changing negative thoughts and behaviors, people can alter their awareness of pain and develop more adaptive coping skills to manage pain. The brain perceives pain, so addressing thoughts and behaviors related to pain can the way you view it.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be used to treat more than 30 diseases, including pain, according to the World Health Organization. Acupuncture was used by Sixteenth Century Chinese doctors, who believed that disease and sickness is due to an imbalance of energy in the body. Acupuncture involves using stainless steel needles to stimulate the body’s major energy-carrying channels. This helps to correct imbalances in the body. Acupuncture is believed to alleviate pain by increasing the release of endorphins, which are chemicals that block pain. Endorphins are part of a system that blocks the message of pain from being delivered to the brain.
Chiropractic Treatment
Chiropractic treatment is a non-surgical treatment that involves hands-on manipulation to the spine. Manipulation helps to improve joint mobility. It is believed that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will help the body to heal quickly.
Botox
Botox is a surprisingly effective treatment for many types of pain. Botox is a purified protein that relaxes the muscles. Botox has been used since the late 1980’s for pain management and is approved by the FDA for the treatment of pain. Botox treatments typically take just a few minutes. A small needle is used to inject Botox into the muscles that are painful. The Botox will relax these muscles and the pain diminishes.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback refers to a technique that is used to help you gain more control over involuntary nervous system responses, such as blood pressure and heart rate. This therapy has been shown to be effective for chronic pain, migraines and other conditions. Biofeedback works by helping you utilize relaxation methods to become more in control of what is going on inside your body.
These complementary treatments for chronic pain can be paired with traditional treatments. By focusing on pain relief through multiple types of treatments, you are likely to overcome pain and focus on living a strong, positive lifestyle.
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