Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

Read this to Gain: knowledge about the different non-drug pain relievers and throw-off pain

Pandora opened her box and Zeus punished us with plagues and diseases, and since that moment mankind has not looked back. Pain, irritation, mood swings, and improper functions of our body are the bain of our lives. Every one of us has experienced pain. It comes unexpectedly and our life changes completely. Our normal rhythm is disrupted because we are focused mainly on the pain reduction.  Insomnia, weight loss and depression may occur as a result. Modern societies have developed “weapons” against pain which are divided into two branches: Alternative medicine and Conventional medicine.

The difference between the two approaches:

Conventional medicine defines health as an absence of diseases, while alternative medicine defines it as a state of “complete physical, mental, and social well-being”. Alternative medicine focuses on preventive treatment and is a slow, continuous process, which strengthens the natural resistance of our body. Traditional medicine, also known as conventional, is more drug and surgery oriented. Dr. Thomas Fiel states: “It must be remembered that each category of health care has certain limitations and that no one type of doctor has all of the treatment answers. Both allopathic and alternative treatments are valid options and are often complementary.”

According to the American Pain Foundation, complementary and alternative medicine is growing at a rate of 15% each year, with more than $24 billion spent on alternative therapies.

Pain types: Generally there are 2 types: acute and chronic. Acute pain doesn’t last long and usually goes away as your body heals. Chronic pain persists at least 6 months after the body has healed.  These two types of pain have different treatment goals. Acute pain treatment is looking for the source and simply erases it. The treatment of chronic pain is multidisciplinary and blends physical, emotional, intellectual and social skills

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods for pain reduction:

Whether it’s for chronic back pain, joint pain, a migraine headache or arthritis in pursuit of health and physical well-being, many people are now turning to alternative pain management techniques. In fact, many doctors recommend these pain management measures in addition to traditional pain relief medications.

Alternative methods modify the body’s reaction to pain. Their main goal is relaxation and the focus is on stress reduction. Some are old treatments, invented centuries ago. Let’s explore the popular CAM pain relief treatments.

Kinesiology and Chiropractic Therapy:

It’s a popular belief that exercise should be avoided during whilst suffering pain. However, recent research has demonstrated exactly the opposite. Today exercise therapy is one of the most popular and recommended pain management techniques available. Exercise not only keeps the joints and muscles fit and strong, but it also releases natural painkillers. Kinesiology practitioners use acupressure techniques to effectively “reset” the body’s response to the emotional stresses. Dr. Steve Woodwards, a medical massage therapist explains:”If we can release the stress on our body whether it be physical, emotional or nutritional our bodies can operate closer to their potential and often the symptoms diminish or disappear completely. One area that Professional Kinesiology Practice techniques work very effectively is with athletes, either with injuries or improving athletic performance. People suffering with chronic pain problems like Fibromyalgia also often find significant relief. Or, if you just don’t feel as good as you’d like to, you are very likely to be surprised by how much better you can feel.”

For neck and back pain relief, the most common method is the chiropractic manipulation. This is a hands-on therapy corrects the dislocation of joints. In a clinical trial conducted by  Hurwitz, Morgenstern , Harber   652 patients with low-back pain received either conventional medical care or chiropractic care. After six months, the researchers found that conventional medical care and chiropractic regimens were equally effective in reducing pain intensity and disability.

Heat Therapy and Hydrotherapy

Research shows that when dry heat is applied to a particular part of the body this dilates blood vessels and increases local temperature and blood supply. In this way constricted blood vessels are relived and the pain is reduced. Some dry heat therapies:

- Infrared light focused on the affected region provides pain relief for lumbago, injury-related pain or rheumatism, muscular-skeletal pains.

-Wax baths. They are recommended for patients with arthritis of the hands or wrists and usually they are combined with medications. The area to be treated is covered with melted paraffin during half  hour sessions.

You may have heard many health resorts and pain management clinics offer   hydrotherapy as a pain relief treatment. These therapies often involve  alternating hot-and-cold baths. The hot baths increase the blood flow and stimulate sweat glands. The cold bath and the alternate hot-and-cold baths bring pain relief by blood vessels’ contractions and underwater massage. The so called “neutral baths” work as a remedy for muscle aches. They can be combined with herbs.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback helps some people manage tension and pain through a combination of relaxation and visualization techniques. In biofeedback, a machine gives direct readouts about the bodily process in question . Once in possession of this information, we can find a way to control it, just as we can learn to wiggle our ears if we try hard enough. Electrodes are attached to the body and enable people to learn how to influence their own body functions: muscle tension, heart rate, etc. This tension-and-pain relief therapy is used for stress-related conditions like  insomnia, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches , and tension headaches. However, doctors note that it can cause skin irritation and is not suitable for pregnant women or people with pacemakers.

Meditation, progressive relaxation and biofeedback are popular stress busters. Physical therapies such as Yoga and Pilates can improve your shape and also decrease stress. Learn more about stress reduction, here.

Acupuncture

This is an ancient, highly effective traditional Chinese medicine. According to practitioners the body is made up of 12 main energy pathways, called meridians and sickness develops when there is an internal imbalance of the body’s energy. When hair-thin needles are inserted into those specific regions the flow of energy increases. A recent study, led by Jorge Vas from the Pain Treatment Unit in Dos Hermanas, Spain analyzed the efficacy of this method in  osteoarthritis : “97 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were split into two groups. Half received acupuncture and diclofenac, while the rest received diclofenac and placebo acupuncture. Placebo acupuncture was given by using retractable needles that didn’t puncture the skin. The researchers found that acupuncture, as a complementary therapy, was more effective than just pharmacological treatment in reducing pain and rigidity, as well as improving physical functioning, in osteoarthritis sufferers.”

Hypnosis

This is a well known pain management technique, especially for chronic pain. Hypnosis reduces stress by increasing relaxation, promoting positive thoughts and eliminating negative ones. This pain management technique has been proven effective in treating pain associated with cancer, childbirth, surgery, and paralysis. It may sound strange, but when hypnotized, a person may experience physiological changes such as a slowing of the pulse and respiration, and an increase in alpha brain waves. Research by experts from the National Institute of Health in 1996 found hypnosis to be effective in easing cancer pain. Other recent studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in pain reduction of burns and rheumatoid arthritis and a reduction of anxiety associated with surgery.

Magnet therapy

This method goes back to the third century A.D. when Greek physicians were using magnetized rings to treat arthritis.  There are many theories about how exactly they work, but there isn’t any conclusive proof. Nevertheless, the popularity of magnet therapy persists—in the form of magnetic bracelets, shoe insoles, belts, and bandages, etc.  It is used mostly by arthritis patients.

In an experiment at  the Harvard Medical School, researchers treated 29 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee in order to see if magnet therapy could relieve their pain. “Subjects received a sleeve equipped with either an active or a placebo magnet initially to be worn for four hours in a hospital setting. Patients were also instructed to wear their sleeves for six hours a day for the next six weeks. In this study, the researchers found improvement in pain among the magnet-wearers at four hours, but the relief was not sustained at weeks one or six.”

We have many options in the battle with pain. There are conventional, complementary and alternative methods. It appears that the combination of different approaches based on the individual patient’s preference is the best way forward. Of course before considering any of the therapies listed above, it’s important to consult a physician.