When dealing with chronic pain, many sufferers reach for the medicine cabinet to take prescription drugs or over-the-counter medication to ease the symptoms. However, medication only offers temporary relief, meaning that before long the pain will be back and you’ll be miserable once again.
For those that have substance abuse problems, it’s even more important to find an alternative form of pain management to help them, as many medications can trigger a return of a substance abuse problem. It’s important to talk to your doctor, counselor, or therapist to find out what the best choice is for you.
Luckily, there are many ways out there to effectively deal with chronic pain such as remedial massage, talking to a therapist, and even taking a weekend trip to relieve stress, along with other methods that have proven to be effective.
Talk to a therapist.
There are many psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, and family therapists today that deal in helping pain sufferers cope with their pain symptoms without medication. This is called therapy for the mind and works by relieving the anxiety, stress, and depression that accompanies chronic pain. If you’re stressed, depressed, or anxious, then that’s going to make the pain even worse. Do your research well for help finding a therapist that specializes in therapy for the mind. There are different types of this therapy available, but all of them teach you how to manage the feelings and thoughts that lead to the pain being worse than it already is.
Remedial Massage
Massage therapy has taken hold quite well as an alternative form of healing to traditional prescription and over-the-counter medications. One form of massage therapy is a remedial massage. A remedial massage is a holistic treatment that is known for helping your body perform at top levels by helping to restore a balance between your skeletal system and the muscles in your body. When you see your remedial therapist, they will help you find the underlying cause of your pain and then help you develop a treatment plan to treat it, without medications. Make an appointment today to ensure you can get in with a therapist to see how this massage treatment can help you deal with chronic pain. The right therapist will help you not only with your physical health, but your mental health as well.
Hot and cold therapy.
Many chronic pain sufferers have been having success with hot and cold therapy for a while now. The heat helps to increase your blood flow, which helps the muscles to relax. You can use a heating pad, a wrap, or even soak in a hot tub, which will not only help soothe the pain in your body but help to soothe your mind as well.
Many people don’t know that cold can be an effective pain management therapy. The best way to manage pain with cold therapy is by applying ice or a cold wrap to the inflamed area. It’s important to talk to your doctor at your first session of pain management, however, to ensure that cold therapy is the best choice for your condition.
Get away for the weekend.
Whether it’s weekend trips from Toronto to New York City or New York City to Toronto, the best thing about a weekend getaway is that you have the option to consider going on a ski trip, visit some scenic waterfalls, or even some art galleries — the choice is yours — which will help you take your mind off your chronic pain for a while. There’s nothing like a trip to a big city like New York, even if it’s a day trip to one of the local cafes to lift your spirits and help you forget the pain for a bit.
If you opt for Toronto, you could perhaps even look for a potential therapist for cognitive behavior therapy, and make sure to visit Toronto Island and the Kensington Market during your stay. A weekend getaway could be just what the doctor ordered.
These are just a few tips for managing your chronic pain without medications. Remember, a good therapist, massage therapy, and even a weekend getaway can go a long way towards helping you manage the pain.