Managing Pain Without Drugs: Acupuncture, Biofeedback, Therapy and More

Pain is a signal from the nervous system that something may be wrong: an unpleasant prick, tingle, sting, burn or ache. People feel it differently, even from the same cause. It can be sharp or dull, come and go or be constant, and be felt in one place — the back, abdomen, chest or pelvis — or all over.

Why try non-drug treatments

Pain relievers range from over-the-counter medicines to stronger prescription drugs, each with benefits and risks. The most powerful, opioids, work very well but carry risks of addiction and overdose. Because of these side effects and risks, you may want to try non-drug treatments first — and if you do need medicine, adding them may let you take a lower dose. Check with your health care provider before trying any of them.

The options

• Acupuncture stimulates specific points on the body, most often with thin needles through the skin, but also with pressure, electrical stimulation or heat. It rests on the belief that qi, a vital energy, flows along paths called meridians, and that stimulating the points rebalances it. Research suggests it can help manage certain pain conditions.
• Biofeedback uses electronic devices to measure body functions such as breathing, heart rate or muscle tension, so you learn to notice and control them — for instance, to spot tense muscles and relax them. It may help with pain, including chronic headaches and back pain.
• Electrical stimulation sends a gentle current to nerves or muscles to change or block pain signals. Types include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), implanted nerve stimulators, and deep brain or spinal cord stimulation.
• Massage therapy kneads, rubs, taps and strokes the body's soft tissues, and may help people relax and relieve stress and pain.
• Meditation focuses attention on an object, word, phrase or the breath, to quiet distracting or stressful thoughts and feelings.
• Physical therapy uses heat, cold, exercise, massage and manipulation to control pain, condition muscles and restore strength.
• Psychotherapy (talk therapy) uses discussion, listening and counseling. For people with pain, especially chronic pain, it can teach skills for coping with pain's stress, address negative thoughts and emotions that make pain worse, and provide support.
• Relaxation therapy can reduce muscle tension and stress, lower blood pressure and control pain. It may involve tensing and relaxing muscles throughout the body, alongside guided imagery — focusing on positive images — and meditation.
• Surgery is sometimes needed for severe pain, especially from back problems or serious musculoskeletal injuries. It always carries risks and does not always relieve pain, so weigh the risks and benefits with your provider.

Sources

Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Non-Drug Pain Management," National Library of Medicine; a work of the United States government in the public domain.