Living with chronic pain can drastically affect a person’s quality of life, impacting on other aspects such as mental health. While medical experts generally agree that there is no single technique that can relieve chronic pain, some techniques are more effective than others. These techniques fall into two broad categories; drug and non-drug techniques.
Non-drug techniques have the advantage of a lower risk of developing a dependency, which is a secondary complication that is observed in many people living with chronic pain. These non-drug techniques like red light therapy for pain management can be used repeatedly without altering the body’s chemical balance. Here are some of the most effective chronic pain management techniques:
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Exercise
Exercising may at first feel a little uncomfortable, constant exercise has the long-term effects of improving flexibility, strength and muscle tone. This is very important in maintaining mobility, for example, in people with chronic back pain.
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Physical Therapy
The physical therapy technique is especially useful for chronic pain brought on by injury. It uses massage, stretching, been lengthening and other physiotherapies depending on the part of the body.
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Bioelectric Therapy
The use of electric energy to treat chronic pain has perfected over the years. A technique like red light therapy for pain management uses electric energy to improve blood circulation, deep heating and controlling spasming. These techniques are painless and have the added advantage of use on any part of the body.
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Acupuncture
The ancient technique uses fine needles to stimulate the nervous system to release endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain blockers. The fine needles used in acupuncture are applied to acupoints which are located on all parts of the body.
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Mind-body Techniques
The mind plays a vital role in perceiving and managing pain. Mind-body techniques harness the power of the mind for self-healing and maintaining good mental health. These techniques include yoga, meditation, hypnosis, guided imagery, visualization, and biofeedback.
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Dietary Changes
Dietary habits have a direct effect on a person’s weight, which in turn affects pressure on the joints, and inflammation of the muscles and joints. Women suffering from fibromyalgia, for example, are advised to adopt a vegetarian-biased diet.
It is useful to note that none of these techniques can completely cure chronic back pain. Each is also limited to the extent to which it can relieve chronic pain, but they are very effective when used in combination. A person suffering from chronic pain should experiment with different techniques to get the combination that works best.
