Everyone experiences pain once in a while, but usually, it is bearable or at least manageable — you know where it comes from, and you can fix it. For example, a toothache is insufferable, but an appointment with a dentist can solve the problem. However, it is a whole different story if someone suffers from serious and chronic pain. In most situations, it is related to another chronic condition that cannot be cured quickly or at all.
In this case, the patient needs to look for the best ways to treat pain and improve their life quality. Opioids are often recommended, but not everyone wants to resort to them due to their side effects and their addictive properties.
In this article, you will find some of the best alternatives to opioids for treating serious and chronic pain, ranging from organic CBD oil tinctures and other CBD products, physical therapy, and acupuncture to injections, nerve blocks, and radio waves.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the safest alternative forms of treatment for chronic pain. First, you need to find a certified acupuncturist. Second, you have to book an appointment, during which the acupuncturist will insert needles into certain areas of your body in order to help you get rid of pain and other symptoms.
Ideally, it should be used in combination with other therapies, such as herbal medicine and massage, and can be a great addition to other treatments. In fact, recent studies show that it is particularly useful for those suffering from musculoskeletal pain, chronic back pain, arthritis, and neuropathy.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a great way to reduce pain. It can help with a wide selection of issues, such as osteoporosis, prostatitis, and lower back pain. It is often combined with other therapies like acupuncture, massage, and low-level laser therapy.
The main goal of physical therapy is to strengthen the muscles surrounding the affected area and eventually minimize the symptoms of particular ailments. It is usually more efficient than taking medication, but it may not work for everyone.
Topical Creams
In case you are experiencing localized pain, there are many different types of creams that you can apply on the affected area. They contain ingredients that can help with inflammation, swelling, and muscle spasms. Many of these products are sold over the counter, which means that you should not have trouble finding and buying a few that meet your needs!
Pain Relief Injections
Pain injections are an effective method for treating localized pain in specific areas of the body. These injections often contain corticosteroids like methylprednisolone acetate or triamcinolone acetonide, along with other medications.
Patients will need to have a prescription from their doctor and most likely will have to go through a consultation with a physician before getting a shot. This procedure is a little bit invasive, as it introduces medication into the bloodstream directly through the skin, but it is one of the most effective ways to deal with localized pain.
Nerve Blocks
Nerve blocks are a way to treat localized pain in the body and they are commonly used for dealing with nerve damage caused by trauma and surgery. This treatment is about using medication to stop nerve signals from reaching certain areas of the body in order to prevent pain.
The procedure is similar to that of an injection but requires more skill and precision from the physician. It can be done in a healthcare facility or in a doctor’s office. If you decide to go this route, choose a doctor who has experience with this procedure.
Radio Frequency Treatment
Radio frequency treatment is just what it sounds like — it uses radio waves and time-varying electric currents to heat up a specific area of the body and relieve pain. This treatment is mainly used for back pain caused by spinal stenosis, but it can also be used for arthritis, herniated disks, tendinitis, and sciatica.
This procedure can be done in the doctor’s office, but sometimes it requires anesthesia to numb the area where the treatment will take place. However, patients do not have to worry about infection and other complications, as the radio waves are non-ionizing radiation that target only one specific area.
CBD Products
CBD oil and other products containing this cannabinoid are used to treat a number of health conditions, including chronic pain, inflammation, mood disorders, epilepsy, osteoporosis, and diabetes. These products are both really effective and have minimal side effects, too!
Most importantly, CBD is not addictive and does not cause any withdrawal symptoms. In fact, it actually helps with overcoming addiction to opioids and other prescription drugs. The most popular CBD products used to treat chronic pain are tinctures, capsules, and creams.
Meditation
Meditation is a practice that often goes hand in hand with yoga, but there are specific types of meditation that can be quite effective in relieving pain. One of these types is called mindfulness meditation and it can really help with reducing stress. There are many other forms of meditation which can be very helpful in pain management, though.
Acupressure
Acupressure is an alternative method to treat pain without using pharmaceuticals. This form of alternative medicine is based on Chinese medicine and involves using pressure points throughout the body in order to reduce pain.
What many people do not know about acupressure is that it can be used alongside other treatments, such as medication and physical therapy. It does not interfere with any other form of therapy, which means that it is a great tool for alleviating pain without causing any side effects and health complications.
In Conclusion
Unfortunately, many people out there are in need of treatment for chronic pain, and they often turn to prescription drugs. The problem with opioids is that they are addictive, have a number of side effects, and can cause drug tolerance, meaning that patients need to take more and more medication to get the same effect.
Many patients resort to cannabidiol oils and other cannabinoids for pain management, as they cause minimal side effects. In addition to that, they are not addictive, which means that they do not cause any withdrawal symptoms.
There are many other therapies that can be used to treat pain without using pharmaceuticals, though, including acupuncture, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, nerve blocks, and radio frequency treatment.
No matter how you decide to deal with chronic pain, always consult your doctor first. They should be able to answer your questions and tell you what a specific form of treatment is about, which will help you feel less stressed out about it.
