According to the CDC, in 2019, 20.4% of adults had chronic pain. Of those adults, 7.4% had pain so bad that it limited their daily life activities.
If you deal with pain, there are treatments to help. From massage to acupuncture and more, we’re going over some of the most common and effective pain management therapies. Keep reading to learn about your choices and how to get help for the pain.
- Physical Therapy
The average physical therapy clinic sees between 101-200 patients per week. Many people rely on physical therapy to help strengthen their muscles and joints. Physical therapy helps to relieve pain, even chronic pain.
Physical therapists teach people with pain how to reduce it and how to cope. The techniques they use may include massage, specific exercise plans, and red light therapy offered by celluma.com, the leader in LED light therapy.
The benefits of going to a pain management center include personalized care, access to a variety of treatment methods, and much more.
- Pain Medicines
There are many types of pain medicines, both OTC (over-the-counter) and prescription. These may be used alongside therapy for pain relief, although many people want to avoid using them too often.
Some of the most common types include:
- Aspirin
- NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Opioids
- Local anesthetics
- Certain antidepressants
- Cannabis
- Relaxation Techniques
Certain pain management therapies involve combining both psychology and the body.
Examples of mind-body therapies include meditation techniques, yoga, tai-chi, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
These types of therapy can help to relieve tension and help you to relax, which may help with reducing or eliminating chronic pain.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient type of Chinese medicine that involves penetrating the skin at specific points on the body with very thin metallic needles. These needles are then activated through electrical stimulation or through a practitioner’s hands.
Acupuncture may help people with their pain, although it’s generally a short-term type of therapy.
Make sure you find a licensed acupuncturist with the right credentials and training.
- Massage
The benefits of massage include increased flexibility, relaxed muscles, lower inflammation, improved circulation, and reduced stiffness which can all help with pain relief.
Massage may be quite effective for lower back pain, one of the more common types. This type of therapy works best when combined with others.
- Hot and Cold Therapy
One of the easiest and cheapest methods of therapy includes using heat and cold. You can even do this at home!
This is a common and safe technique that involves using heat to relax the muscles and promote healing. Cold can help to reduce inflammation, which is often associated with pain.
Make sure to never apply ice directly to the skin. Instead, use an ice pack wrapped in a towel. Or you can utilize online tools like cold therapy units, you can get some such as breg polar care glacier online.
Try These Pain Management Therapies Today
You don’t have to live with chronic pain. Try a few of these pain management therapies to see if any work for you so you can find relief today.
For more tips on staying healthy and making the most of your life, check out some of the other articles on our website.
