Alternative Medical Treatments for Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain can be an absolute nightmare. For those suffering with chronic pain in any part of their body, simply getting out of bed in order to go about their daily lives can be a massive struggle. In many cases, being able to work is impossible, meaning that people suffering from illnesses and disabilities that cause chronic pain are often limited when it comes to making an income, with many living off state disability payments and welfare benefits in order to make ends meet. For those suffering from chronic pain, many medication and surgery options are hugely expensive, with some even not guaranteeing results. Because of this, more and more patients are turning to natural remedies and treatments to combat their symptoms.
Medical Marijuana
Since the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in many U.S. states, an increasing number of people who live with chronic pain have begun to use it as an option for treatment. Whether inhaled using a personal vaporizer or consumed in foods, medical marijuana can help to relieve the symptoms of many types of chronic pains, enabling sufferers to relax and be better able to deal with their condition. Medical marijuana can be prescribed by a doctor to treat a large number of conditions or it can be bought from a dispensary.
Acupuncture
Once seen as a strange choice of treatment, more and more patients are opting for this age old, natural remedy as a way of combatting chronic pain. Research studies have discovered that acupuncture is useful for dealing with the symptoms of a number of painful conditions, and can have positive results when used as a treatment for fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, sports injuries, and arthritis. Although there is no certainty on how acupuncture actually works, research suggests that it may block pain signals coming from nerves in the body or release specific pain- numbing chemicals.
Exercise
For certain conditions, some forms of exercise can actually help to relieve the pain. Regular physical activity can have impressive results for those suffering from a range of different conditions, as it releases “feel good” hormones into the system that can actually help to relieve pain. A number of different studies suggest that regular exercise can be highly beneficial, with activities such as swimming and yoga topping the list for keeping muscles toned and supple and increasing flexibility, factors which can help ease chronic pain and strengthen the body to better deal with pain.
Psychotherapy
For many chronic pain sufferers, it’s not just the physical problems that hamper their day-to- day lives; living with a condition that causes chronic pain can also give rise to mental health problems including stress, depression and anxiety. Seeing a therapist can be extremely helpful when suffering from chronic pain as it gives the patient an outlet to talk about their experiences and know that they will be understood and helped.
Delicia Warren is a freelance writer, passionate about the environment, organic farming and food production. Advocate for a holistic approach to the world’s problems, she has a particular interest in the small changes individuals can make to their lifestyle to minimize their environmental footprint.
See also:
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Restricting Opiate Use: But What About The Pain?
