Doctors are working to ensure the safe use of opioid-based prescription medications as a first line of pain control, particularly for chronic pain sufferers. Some health care professionals and patients are exploring the use of complementary and alternative treatments to assist in that effort.
New research is beginning to shed light on this issue.
The first study to compare opioid-based medications to non-opioid drugs like acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) over the course of a year and for certain kinds of patients showed that the non-opioid drugs were basically just as good. (In research lingo, the opioid medication therapy did not result in significantly better pain-related function.) The study included 240 patients with moderate to severe chronic back pain or hip or knee arthritis pain.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain note the potential for exercise and cognitive behavioral therapies to assist in managing chronic pain. Alternative therapies such as biofeedback, acupuncture, massage, and herbs have the potential to alleviate pain.
Here’s a summary of some alternative therapies that might help with chronic pain management. As always, be an engaged patient and discuss these with your doctor or other trusted health care provider if you need to develop a plan for managing chronic pain.
Acupuncture: This is an ancient Chinese technique in which very fine needles are inserted into specific points in the body. It’s becoming more popular: In government surveys, one in 67 Americans says he or she gets acupuncture every year, up from one in 91 a decade earlier.
Acupuncture may make the body release chemicals that block pain, improve the immune system, and relieve migraine problems. Acupuncturists in Pennsylvania must be licensed by the state.
Biofeedback: Sensors are placed on the skin to measure muscle tension, skin temperature, brain waves, and other body signals, and that information is used to help reduce stress. Studies show that, in the treatment of migraines, biofeedback training can be used to change the blood flow to the brain and better manage a headache. The technique has been used to treat everything from chronic pain to high blood pressure.
Massage: Massage therapy is a well-accepted non-drug therapy for managing pain. In a 2017 consumer survey, 43 percent of people who had had a massage in the previous 12 months did so for medical reasons that included everything from pain relief to injury recovery. Massage therapists in Pennsylvania must be licensed by the state.
Stress management: Doctors have found that a combination of stress-management practices and antidepressant drugs can reduce the use of pain medication. While they’re not certain why, they think the drugs may affect chemicals in the body that send pain signals to the brain. A specialist in psychology, psychiatry, or integrative medicine can teach relaxation techniques.
Aromatherapy: In this therapy, you breathe in essential oils or rub them on your skin to help you relax and change how you perceive pain. Studies show that lavender, rose oil, and bergamot have lessened patients’ pain.
Herbs: People use herbs for proven or reputed health benefits, but before trying any of them, talk to your doctor to be sure they won’t interfere with the medicines you’re taking. Some combinations can be harmful.
Herbs that come up in pain-management discussion include:
- Willow bark, which contains a chemical called salicin that acts much like aspirin
- Turmeric, which contains the compound curcumin and has anti-inflammatory properties
- Cloves contain eugenol, a natural pain reliever that’s also used in over-the-counter pain rubs