How to Manage Pain Without Pills

Not everyone feels comfortable relying on pharmaceutical drugs to manage their pain levels.

00:33 04 August 2023

Not everyone feels comfortable relying on pharmaceutical drugs to manage their pain levels. Previous dependence may make pharmaceuticals an unsafe option. Otherwise, you might simply wish to rely on natural pain relief techniques and products as much as possible. Healthcare professionals normally know what’s best to manage specific symptoms and ailments. However, you might ask them whether some of the following pill-free pain management options are suitable for you: 

Delta-9 THC

When you’re living with debilitating and crippling illnesses like chronic pain and fibromyalgia, it can sometimes feel like nothing will ever get rid of the pain and discomfort. However, your healthcare provider might recommend Delta-9 edibles and other Delta-9 THC products. Current research paints a promising picture of how Delta-9 might help manage symptoms. 

In a Multicenter Survey, 124 patients were given 7.5mg of Delta-9 THC over a seven-month period. During this time, researchers observed pain intensity improvements. The survey demonstrated Delta-9 THC’s potential to form part of a pain management plan for chronic pain in central neuropathy and fibromyalgia. 

With your doctor’s approval, you might like to explore Delta-9 products to manage the pain linked to your health condition. There are a number of products to choose from, such as edibles, flower, and vape oil. 

Exercise

Exercise might be the last thing you feel like doing when you’re experiencing extreme pain. However, it might be more valuable for pain management than you think. Many people living with chronic conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia find that exercise interrupts the vicious pain cycle that can limit mobility. Fortunately, you don’t have to go out and enter a marathon. Instead, gentle activities like cycling, walking, and swimming might help you remain mobile and feel less pain. 

Yoga

There isn’t much strong evidence to suggest that yoga relieves pain. However, some evidence is better than none. Yoga is a spiritual and ascetic discipline that some people find useful for decreasing pain and increasing function. 

Systematic reviews have encouraged it for patients with chronic low back pain. A review of 12 trials with over 1,000 participants also found that yoga might be effective for reducing back pain over a three- and six-month period. 

Despite no substantial evidence to say that yoga is 100% successful for pain relief, it might be an exercise you consider with your healthcare provider’s approval. At a minimum, yoga can teach you breath control and help you feel more relaxed. Learning how to relax might be helpful when you’re struggling with daily pain. 

Heat and Cold Therapy

You don’t always need to reach for painkillers to experience relief from pain and discomfort. Sometimes, heat and cold therapy can be helpful for pain and acute injuries. Heat therapy can improve blood flow in a targeted area, which might provide much-needed relief from muscle pain and stiffness. Some people also use heat therapy to heal damaged tissue. 

Both dry heat and moist heat are suitable options for some people. Dry heat, also known as conducted heat therapy, involves using saunas, dry heating packs, and heating pads. You might also explore moist or convected heat through hot baths, steamed towels, and moist heating packs. 

Cold therapy might be worth exploring to reduce swelling and inflammation that can lead to pain and discomfort. Cold therapy, also called cryotherapy, involves using ice packs, ice massage, ice baths, and coolant sprays applied to specific areas. However, some people also use whole-body cold therapy chambers to reduce muscle spasms, relieve ligament sprains, and reduce inflammation. 

Therapeutic Massage

You might treat yourself to a massage just to feel more relaxed, but there’s potential for therapeutic massages to also relieve pain. Therapeutic massage is the subject of many recent studies, and the results are looking promising. 

It’s believed that massage can possibly relax painful muscles, joints, and tendons while potentially relieving stress and anxiety. A 2014 study also found that four weeks of one-hour massage sessions up to three times per week reduced chronic neck pain better than fewer shorter massages or no massages. 

Everyone has massage preferences, so don’t hesitate to communicate your wants and needs to your therapist. Some people prefer light touch due to severe pain, while others prefer firm to hard pressure. 

However, therapeutic massage is not a suitable pain relief method for everyone. It’s typically not recommended for people with skin conditions in the areas that need to be massaged. Heart problems and infectious diseases can also be why therapeutic massages aren’t suitable for you. 

Physical Therapy

Painkillers might mask the pain you’re experiencing so you can enjoy life to the fullest. However, many people prefer to get to the cause of the pain and hopefully fix it or reduce it at the source. In that case, you might consider physical therapy as a non-medication pain relief option. 

Physical therapists can advise on the best way to perform daily activities to avoid pain and discomfort. They can also provide you with helpful exercises designed to assist with strength and mobility. Improve these areas, and pain relief might follow. 

It’s worth knowing that physical therapy is not an overnight fix. It requires commitment and patience. Make an appointment with a physical therapist to learn which treatment options and exercises might be suitable for you. 

Music Therapy

Some people are so eager to see pain reduction that they’ll try nearly anything. Try listening to music if you’re looking for non-invasive and free pain relief. As strange as it sounds, music might be effective for pain relief in some situations.

For example, a British Journal of General Practice review found that music can decrease pain levels. It’s possible that this pain relief might be due to a change in catecholamine levels, a release of endorphins, or simply a case of distraction. Regardless of how it happens, it might bring you relief to know something enjoyable and cost-effective might make you feel better. 

While there is never any shortage of painkillers on the market, not everyone wants to rely on pharmaceuticals to feel better. In that case, any of these pain relief methods above might be worth exploring. Always consult your healthcare provider before exploring alternative healthcare options.