Painkillers and medications may not be for everyone when it comes to managing chronic pain or treating some medical conditions. Fortunately, there are plenty of other techniques you can try that may not include taking a bunch of pills.
What is Alternative Pain Management?
Alternative pain management is a term used for a collection of “alternative therapies” that include less conventional treatment methods in place of traditional medications or in some cases, even surgery. Alternative pain management can include a wide range of techniques and practices. These techniques are often not as heavily researched as traditional medicinal practices or the science behind them may be unclear, but for some people, they can be an effective form of alternative pain control or treatment for certain conditions. In particular, alternative pain management techniques are often used to treat chronic pain by people who want to avoid the use of opioids. While effective in treating pain, this class of drugs can also be highly addictive if misused. For those who received opioid addiction treatment, painkillers also may no longer be a viable option for care. Instead, these people need to learn how to relieve pain without medications.
Alternative Methods for Pain Management Besides Opioids
While holistic pain management techniques may not work for everyone and some methods can be more beneficial than others depending on the person, they may be worth trying if you are looking for ways of managing chronic pain without drugs. Some alternatives pain management techniques you can try include:
- Yoga
- Meditation and mindfulness
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic treatment
- Talk therapy
- Hypnosis
- Supplements or vitamins
- Biofeedback
- Reiki
- Massage therapy
- Music therapy
- Guided imagery
- Aromatherapy
- Herbs
- Exercise or physical therapy
- Hot and cold therapy
What is effective for one person, may not be effective for someone else, but it may still be worth trying. Just make sure your check with your doctor before using any of these alternative pain management methods as some could interfere with your current treatment or have negative interactions with other medications. At Woodland Recovery Center MS, we recognize that treatment is different for everyone and what works for one patient may not be the best approach for another. Not only does every patient follow their own unique addiction treatment plan, but also we use alternative programming like some of the techniques mentioned above alongside our evidence-based treatment modalities. This all-inclusive approach to care promotes comprehensive healing and helps patients improve their overall well-being. To learn more about the programs at our inpatient rehab center in Mississippi, reach out to our care team today.
