Chronic pain can be enduring for as long as months or even years, even after its root cause has been detected and treated. While specific surgeries and conventional medications are there to alleviate pain, there are also other mediums to support recovery, called alternative treatments.
Many holistic medicine doctors recommend alternative options for chronic pain. Alternative treatments can be used in place of conventional medicine or practiced alongside it.
If you have been dealing with chronic pain for a long time, there are a lot of other options you can employ to ease discomfort without much hassle.
When are Alternative Treatments Recommended?
Alternative treatments may be recommended in case when a patient is:
- At the risk of developing an addiction to medicines.
- Experiencing bad side effects of traditional regular pain medications.
- Not getting relief from regular pain medications even after extended doses.
Benefits of Seeking Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain
Alternative pain treatments have several benefits for patients:
- Lower health risks: These treatments are a non-addictive and safer way to manage chronic pain e.g. Leg Massager. This helps patients avoid or reduce their reliance on prescription drugs.
- Supports emotional health: Surgeries and drug therapies only target physical pain, but alternative treatments support mental health, too. Patients who have been suffering from chronic pain are aided with counseling or group therapy, helping them deal with emotional turmoil through a holistic mind-body approach.
- Personalized attention: Professionals of both traditional and alternative treatments create customized pain management plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.
Popular Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain
1) Acupuncture
Acupuncture may help reduce pain by freeing up the chemicals blocking pain, also called endorphins. This method involves stimulating acupoints around nerves of the pained area, releasing endorphins that help block the pain with the help of other neurotransmitters.
Acupuncture may be a useful tool for many pains, including headaches, low back pain, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and myofascial pain. It can be used as an alternative treatment or included in the comprehensive pain management program.
2) Targeted Massage Therapy
Massage is an exceptional alternative to having pop pills regularly. For that reason, it is widely popular among people suffering from chronic pain, mostly back, neck, and knee problems. Massage is extremely relaxing. At the same time, it can ease stress and relieve tension by improving blood flow. Moreover, it also reduces underlying troubles that may be causing sustaining pain.
3) Therapeutic or Reiki Healing
Therapeutic or reiki healing is great for self-healing. As a result, they reduce pain. These techniques work on energy and do not need physical touch or proximity to treat the pain. These techniques can even be practiced from a far distance. However, more research is required to conclude its effectiveness in pain management and its efficacy for the same.
4) Supplementation
It is also believed that diet has a key role in limiting inflammation and pain. Some holistic medical practitioners believe that changing dietary intake or consuming more plant-based foods can lessen the discomfort. Diet can also help reduce weight, which is extremely important for people with osteo arthritis. Still, more research is needed to solidify the effectiveness of dietary modifications as a pain treatment.
5) Herbal Remedies
Herbal ointments and creams are widely available for chronic pain. Many of them are made of hemp and designed for targeted areas, helping you focus on the region where you have the most pain. If you decide to use herbal preparations for pain, purchase the products from trusted brands like beeZbee, who prioritize high-quality, safe, and tested pain creams that can be applied without hesitations and deliver much-needed support. Having that said, if you have any skin condition, consult your healthcare provider for better guidance.
6) Exercise:
Although it isn’t specifically a treatment for chronic pain, regular exercising or going for a simple walk has multiple benefits for people dealing with painful conditions. It helps boost mood and energy and even helps with pain. If you have chronic pain, you should first check with your doctor before starting any exercise regime. Based on your doctor’s advice, start with a small exercise session.
Takeaway of the Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain Management
If you are living with chronic pain and tired of its consequences on your day-to-day life, you may consider alternative treatments. This makes a lot of sense, considering that even a small amount of pain can significantly impact your well-being. That being said, alternative treatments are not yet considered mainstream, so they should be integrated slowly into your existing pain management plan.
Also, do not practice the above techniques on your own without notifying your doctor. Consult your doctor to understand the pros and cons of incorporating these techniques.
We also recommend you stay updated with the latest happenings in the world of alternative treatments for chronic pain. The treatment options for chronic pain are many, but is it for you? That is the question, and that is what you need to ponder.
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