The journey to finding pain relief is often frustrating and unsatisfactory. Pharmaceutical drugs are habit-forming and likely to cause drowsiness and fatigue. They debilitate a patient’s ability to function, thus causing withdrawal and depression.
When a pain strategy no longer works for a patient, health practitioners tend to move to higher doses or stronger iterations of drugs. Dependence on pain drugs results in patients feeling out of control of their pain. A holistic, alternative approach empowers patients to gain control over their pain. Here are some of the best alternatives to consider.
Eastern medicine
Acupuncture and herbal remedies are effective for the relief of stress and tension often associated with pain. Acupuncture is a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, which uses needles. This method works for acute and severe pain, providing an anti-inflammatory response at needle points while releasing endorphins in the brain.
Herbal remedies are great for relieving the stress associated with pain. Red Maeng Da Kratom, a herbal supplement by KingdomKratom.com, delivers calming effects and boosts energy. A calm state of mind helps reduce pain-induced frustration and strain.
Chiropractic treatment
Chiropractors adjustments focus on realigning the spine to restore the nervous system. Treatment is geared towards restoring the spine’s vertebrae to their natural position for pain relief. Practitioners in this field don’t rely on medications or surgery. Their adjustment techniques are specialized to align and restore the spinal column.
Utilizing their hands, chiropractors treat their patients with back and neck pain, naturally. Their main goal is to restore the connection between the patient and their body, so the body can continue to do what it was built to do, without pain or discomfort.
Biofeedback devices
Biofeedback devices are attached to the patient. They mirror the body’s physiological response to pain so that the patient is aware of it and can intervene. Increased heart or breathing rate will signal to the patient what’s going on inside them when pain occurs.
This awareness of physiological response can interrupt the habitual ways in which patients respond to pain. Patients using this approach have the opportunity to adjust their response to pain and reduce the effects of discomfort.
Cold and heat
Ice packs and heating pads are essential tools for patients suffering from pain. They’re affordable, accessible and effective for pain ranging from arthritis to back pain. A general rule of thumb with hot and cold therapy is to use heat for stiffness and muscle pain and cold for acute pain and swelling.
These methods are used separately and in conjunction with one another for pain relief. Cold therapy reduces blood flow and is used to reduce inflammation. Heat therapy increases blood flow and is used to release muscle tension. Patients are encouraged to explore which technique works best for their pain.
Mindfulness techniques
Successful methods to restore calm and control over pain include meditation and breathing techniques. These practices are important for bringing patients out of pain and into the present. Mindfulness techniques illustrate the connection between mind and body.
When the brain is triggered to feel pain, it induces a fight or flight response in our body. The stress and fear brought on by pain worsen tension and muscle spasm. Much like the effects of biofeedback devices, mindfulness gives the patient control to change their response to pain.