How Can I Reduce My Pain Without Medicine?

11/10/2021

How Can I Reduce My Pain Without Medicine?

Natural Ways to Relieve Pain

Dealing With Chronic Body Pain?

Almost everyone has endured some type of body pain in their life, whether it be minor or intense. While pain usually goes away after a few days and is typically triggered by certain activities, some physical pain never really goes away.

Unfortunately, many individuals deal with what is called chronic pain. If you have constant back problems, migraines, knee issues, neck tightness, or any related kinds of aches, it is likely that you are dealing with chronic pain. Chronic pain typically comes from medical conditions such as cancer, but could also appear out of the blue without any triggers or signs.

Regardless of where chronic pain comes from, it can largely impact a person’s quality of living. To ease pain and live a healthier life, those who suffer from chronic pain are encouraged to seek some sort of treatment.

Most of the time, recommended treatment methods include prescription medications. As many people know, prescription medications are not for everyone since they may come with a risk of undesirable or potentially dangerous side effects.

Risks of Pain Relief Medications

While medications can be effective in relieving pain, they may cause symptoms that may not be worth the pain relief. The risks of pain relievers vary depending on the type of medication someone uses, but there are some general effects that medications are known to cause.

Here are some of the risks of using medication for pain relief:

Taking a lot of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may lead to kidney damage, indigestion, and stomach ulcers.
Opioids like codeine, hydrocodone, and morphine can cause constipation, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, depression, itching, sweating, and a weakened immune system
One of the most serious risks of using pain relief medication is developing a tolerance and becoming addicted. Addiction can lead to additional risks and will require substance abuse treatment.

Because of these risks and other personal preferences, some individuals may want to look into non-medicinal options for treating their pain relief. If you’re wondering how to reduce your pain without medicine, consider some of the natural pain relief options we describe below.

Ways to Reduce Pain Without Medicine

How can you relieve body pain without over-the-counter or prescription medications? Here are just a few options that may be better for you than medicine:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, one of the oldest pain management techniques in the world, uses tiny needles that are placed in specific points on the body to relieve chronic pain.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy uses exercise and other techniques to teach you how to gently move your muscles, strengthen them, and work your joints to alleviate pain.

Massage Therapy

Massage, whether it’s deep tissue or a more gentle technique, can help relax sore tissues and muscles to relieve chronic pain in the back, neck, arms, and more.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses may trigger chronic body pain. By participating in cognitive behavioral therapy, you can develop tools to manage your thoughts/emotions and your body’s response.

Hot & Cold Therapy

Heat therapy in the form of a pad or a wrap can sooth the body and allow the muscles to relax. Cold therapy, on the other hand, slows blood flow to ease a painful joint.

Before starting any of these options, talk to your doctor about which type of pain management technique could be best for you. If you have any more questions about how to relieve pain without medicine, don’t hesitate to contact our team of mental health and substance abuse treatment experts by calling 267.209.7313.