Nonsurgical pain relief

By L.H. GRAY
Trucker's World

10/20/2008

Penny’s knees hurt from years of carrying too much weight. She wraps them tightly with ACE bandages to help relieve the pain. Even though she’s been referred to an orthopedic surgeon, she’s avoided making an appointment. She afraid of what he’ll say: surgery. She doesn’t want to face surgery or the difficult recovery. So she lives with the pain.

Many people suffer everyday with pain — backaches, headaches, knee pain, wrist pain, muscle pain and many other kinds of pain. According to the American Pain Foundation more than 76.5 million Americans suffer with chronic pain.

Being in constant pain can limit what jobs a person is able to do. It can rob someone from enjoying play time with children or grandchildren. It can bring on exhaustion, depression and loss of interest in hobbies or social activities.

Many people suffer passively. They take over-the-counter pain medication and make it through each day the best they can. They’re afraid if they go to the doctor it’ll mean surgery or prescription meds. So they suffer.

But there are many options to ease aches and pains that don’t come from the knife or a pill.

There are alternative non-surgical pain remedies that may bring relief if you suffer from chronic pain. These alternative therapies are noninvasive, non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical, and work with the body’s natural healing powers.

Alternative options do not work for everyone and may carry their own set of risks and side effects. But with the good results many have experienced from non-surgical pain relief, it’s worth considering an alternative pain relief option. As always, consult your health care professional before trying any treatment plan.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can help relieve pain and restore function and movement. Physical therapy shows people how to deal with pain and limitations in their daily activities. It provides guidance for exercises, activities and prevention.

Physical therapists may use therapies such as ultrasound in conjunction with stretching and strengthening exercises. They may utilize pain relieving exercises and stretch a joint through a greater range of motion.

For example, someone with a shoulder injury may be shown how to restore function to that shoulder through different strengthening exercises. He/she may be taken through uncomfortable movements to increase range of motion. He may then be taught ways to prevent further injuries.

A doctor usually refers a patient to a physical therapist and it is then covered by health care plans. Check with your health care provider to see if you are a candidate for physical therapy and if it’s included in your medical coverage.

To find out more about physical therapy or to find a physical therapist in your area, contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org.

Chiropractic

Millions of Americans seek chiropractic care each year for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other joint and muscular pain. It is considered a safe and effective treatment that helps many people avoid invasive procedures and prescription drugs.

Chiropractors use their hands or special tools to manipulate the spine. The manipulation restores the proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure. This alignment is believed to allow the body to utilize its own restorative and healing abilities.

Chiropractic care can relieve pain, restore function and movement, and help prevent further injury. It has been shown to relieve low back problems, neck pain and headaches, and even osteoarthritis.

For more information on chiropractic care or to find a chiropractor in your area, visit The American Chiropractic Association at www.amerchiro.org, or Find a Chiropractor at www.findachiropractor.com.

Massage

Massage therapy can be used to relieve many different types of pain, including chronic pain. One survey shows that Americans rate massage therapy as highly as medication for pain relief. The pressure of kneading the soft body tissue with the hands or special instruments can cause tense muscles to relax, reduce inflammation and ease stress, which result in less pain.

As the body relaxes, a sense of well being may emerge, giving a mental boost. In addition to a brighter outlook, the resulting relaxation aids in sleep and stress management.

There are many types of massage therapies. Swedish massage is a gentle and relaxing experience. Deep tissue massage targets the deep layers of muscle for tension relief. Hot stone massage uses heated stones that are placed on different points of the body. Aromatherapy massage uses scented essential oils to aid in stress and emotional relief. Shiatsu (a form of Japanese bodywork) uses finger pressure in rhythmic motion. And the list goes on.

To find a qualified massage therapist, talk to several to find out their experience or area of specialty. Explain the type of pain you have and ask what kind of massage they recommend. Also visit the American Massage Therapy Association for more information or to find a therapist in your area visit www.amtamassage.org.

(If you’ve never tried massage therapy, treat yourself — it feels oh-so-good.)

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice. It has been used for centuries to relieve pain and treat disease.

Very thin needles, about as thin as a hair, are inserted into the skin at specific points. These points are part of the body’s meridians, or channels, believed to channel energy between the surface of the body and internal organs. If the channels become blocked, pain and disease result. Placing needles at the end of the channel is believed to restore healthy energy.

Western medicine takes the view that acupuncture causes the release of the body’s natural painkillers, opioids, and endorphins. Acupuncture may also stimulate the immune system, as well as neurotransmitters in the brain, increasing the flow of healing.

The entrance of the needle may cause a small pinch-like sensation or not be felt at all. The needles may then be manipulated until a tingling is experienced. Some needles are left in a few seconds and others for up to 30 minutes. An acupuncture treatment is claimed to relieve pain and cause relaxation.

For more information on acupuncture or to find an acupuncturist in your area, visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture at www.medicalacupuncure.org.

Exercise

Many people in pain avoid extra movement because it hurts. Often, the less they move, the worse their condition becomes. Then they move even less and degenerate more. It becomes a vicious cycle of pain, immobility and worsening physical condition.

Without exercise, muscle and bone density decrease, the heart weakens, and joints become stiff. With exercise, muscles and bones are strengthened. The cardiovascular system is strengthened. Joints are kept flexible and range of motion is enhanced.

Exercise brings many benefits. With the strengthening of the body, a person is better able to function in activities of daily living. The release of endorphins through exercise helps relieve the perception of pain. Flexibility workouts can give relief to tense muscles. Improved sleep, healthier weight, and an elevated mood are also side benefits of exercise.

Those suffering with chronic pain should exercise moderately with low or non impact activities, such as water exercises, cycling, stretching, and strength training. It is best to work with a professional to get set up with a safe workout.

For information on finding a certified personal trainer in your area, visit the American Counsel on Exercise www.acefitness.org (click “find an ACE pro”), or visit the National Strength and Conditioning Association www.nsca-lift.org/trainers/locator/.

Pain relieving wonders

On the market are a pile of pain relieving wonders — and you gotta wonder if they really work. There are gels, creams, ointments, supplements, heat/ice therapies, infrared light treatments and more.

There is something called EFT, or Emotional Freedom Technique. Using the fingertips, the body’s meridian points are tapped to balance energy and bring both emotional relaxation and pain relief. It is described as “acupuncture without needles” and claims to have a success rate of 80 percent.

Then there is magnetic therapy. A magnet is worn, like a back brace, or sat/slept upon, like a pillow. The magnets work to restore the body’s natural electromagnetic field to normal levels. This is said to relieve pain and inflammation, and promote accelerated healing.

There are also many supplements that make claim for pain relief, especially of the joints. Some of the more common are glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin, SAM-e, turmeric, fish oil, and flax seed oil.

Of course, we can’t leave out the topical creams, such as “Dr. Harvey’s” cream, an orthopedic pain relieving cream. Or “Old Goat” cream, a natural pain relieving cream that claims the old goat works for hours.

Depending on your pain and your condition, some alternative, non-surgical therapies may work for you. Others may be a waste of time and money.

The benefit of trying alternative therapies is that you might find one that actually works — one that relieves your pain and suffering without undergoing the knife.