Drug-Free Treatment Types To Manage Chronic Pain

In our modern world, we can help manage most conditions using medication. This has allowed us to treat various illnesses, such as pneumonia, diabetes, and asthma.

However, as important as some medication is in the medical world, it has come with its own caveats. This is especially true for opioid pain medications. Fortunately, there are drug-free treatment types to manage chronic pain available for those who need to avoid medicines for any reason.

Chiropractic Treatments

Finding a treatment that fits your situation depends on the source of your pain. For many, chronic pain stems from spinal misalignment, often from a sedentary lifestyle, bad posture, or a car accident. Spinal misalignment doesn’t manifest just in back pain but can also make itself known through pain in the:

• Neck
• Shoulders
• Knees
• Hands
• Joints

For these people, regular chiropractic treatments often provide an effective drug-free treatment option for managing chronic pain. Look for a chiropractor who specializes in the problem area in your body.

Light Exercise

When we are in pain, our first instinct is to stay off our feet and rest. But taking the time to exercise can help reduce inflammation, strengthen weakened muscles, and reduce stress that may lead to muscle tension. A few good options for pain-relieving exercises include:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Stretching
• Bicycling
• Pilates

Remember: the emphasis is on light exercise. Performing strenuous exercise can become more detrimental to your pain, especially if you’re recovering from an injury. Consult your doctor about your exercise regimen if you’re unsure.

Massage

Even though massage is an ancient medicinal tradition, we still recognize the medical benefits of massage to this day. For instance, massage is known to:

• Improve blood flow
• Reduce muscle tension
• Relieve inflammation
• Stop the production of stress-producing cortisol
• Increase production of pain-relieving endorphins
• Break up scar tissue

These benefits work together to reduce chronic pain, even pain from injuries. However, patients should avoid having massages until after open wounds have healed.

Nerve Stimulation

TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, sends electrical signals into your body’s nervous system through electrodes placed on the body. These signals can do several things for your body, including:

• Adjust the signals of the nervous system, shutting down pain signals
• Release pain-reducing endorphins into the body
• Increase circulation to sore muscles to reduce pain

While you could only get this treatment in hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices before, by buying a TENS Unit, it is now possible to experience this relief at home.