Pain management is a leading industry. The number one complaint of all patients anywhere is pain. That said, there have been numerous studies on pain management, and the following seven approaches have been proven to be extremely effective.

Sleep

Easier said than done, right? Studies have shown that an excellent night's sleep is physically restorative and patients feel less pain when they have been able to sleep a solid seven to nine hours. If pain keeps you from falling asleep, a sleep aid can help you ignore the pain and fall asleep faster.

Exercise

Certainly the thought of moving more when you hurt so much seems impossible. However, the body's response to exercise is endorphins, which cause you to feel less pain, feel happier, and sleep better. You do not have to run a marathon; a daily 30-minute walk outside or on a treadmill at a steady pace that produces sweat is sufficient.

Water Therapy

When the body is buoyed up by water, it relaxes every nerve in your body. Just sitting in a pool or soaking in a tub removes all of the tension, which in turn removes pain. Actual water therapy classes are a real thing, too, in case you needed any further proof or encouragement.

TENS Units

For more chronic pain, TENS units are very effective. These electrode patches provide a small dose of "shock therapy" to the areas of the body that are sore. The small jolts given interrupt the pain transmissions to the pain transmitters in the brain. The brain registers "no pain," and then you are pain free again for a while.

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has a similar effect to water therapy and exercise combined. It relaxes you so that you are less tense, and tension pain goes away. Then the sensation of human touch releases oxytocin, a chemical that elevates mood and is the same chemical people experience when they form bonds with each other. Do not worry; the amount your body releases through massage therapy is not enough to make you fall for your massage therapist!

Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care realigns the spine and the body, which are often the root causes of pain. It focuses on the skeletal structure and alignment, which may cause you to sleep or walk funny and incur pain in the joints because of misalignment. Most people report significantly less pain after a chiropractic course of treatment.

Rolfing

Rolfing is rather new. It focuses on soft tissue manipulations and is a companion to chiropractic care. Tightened muscles are relieved and repositioned so that they are not clenching and pulling in directions they should not be. Loosened up, you feel better and more able to move.  

Share