Drug Free Chronic Pain Relief Options
A recent study has estimated that the prevalence of chronic pain in the UK now effects 43% of the population. This statistic equates to just under 28 million people who have suffered from, or are currently suffering from, chronic pain. Therefore if you are reading this article and suffering from chronic pain then you are not alone and a common issue facing people is trying to find a drug-free option for chronic pain relief.
The most traditional methods of easing the symptoms of chronic pain have been through the use of prescribed pain-killer medication, however research has shown that in the long term this isn’t a great solution and pain-killer medication is deemed by most medical professionals as a short term fix. Therefore there are many people out there who are long terms sufferers looking for an alternative therapy which is drug-free.
Generic Drug Free Options
There are some general methods to help manage your pain without having to rely on medication which are:
Holistic Therapy
Holistic therapies such as Massage, Aromatherapy and Acupuncture can help relieve pain and help manage the psychological demands from chronic pain.
Exercise
Depending on the severity of your chronic pain, gentle stretching and exercise can help to strengthen the muscles which can help relieve symptoms of chronic pain.
Drug-Free Gels
There are a number of different drug free gels on the market made from naturally sourced ingredients to help relieve pain once applied directly to the skin.
TENS Machines
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) uses a low voltage of electrodes to target specific areas of pain to ease aches in the hips, elbows and lower back.
Neuromodulation Technology
For a more long-term solution to pain management, recent technologies have revealed a new type of therapy which is drug-free and non invasive called Neuromodulation.
Neuromodulation Technology is one of the newest and most innovative methods of easing chronic pain. It uses electrical stimulation in the form of implantable devices to deliver a minimally invasive electrical current to a targeted area of the nervous system. This in turn blocks the pain messages to the brain and helps give individuals a successful, long-term solution to their chronic pain symptoms.
There are various types of Neuromodulation Treatments available on both the NHS and Private Hospital healthcare which include:
Spinal Chord Stimulation
Spinal Chord Stimulation sends a pulsated electrical current to the affected area of the nervous system to mask the sensation of pain and replace with a more manageable.
Pain Relief Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency involves the use of electrical current (produced by radio waves) to heat up the specific area of nerve tissue causing the pain to create a lesion which interrupts the pain signals.
Both methods have been regarded as highly successful forms of treatment for chronic pain and it’s drug-free advantage has made it highly popular in both the NHS and Private Hospital Sector.
Please note: This information should not be used as a substitute for any medical advice or treatment provided already by a health care provider. Always consult a medical professional about any health related concerns.