You might have heard the saying, “The mind forgets, but the body remembers.” It’s not a mere platitude. Numerous studies have confirmed a strong link between mind-body connection and osteomuscular chronic pain. Here’s a simplified explanation of how it works –
When your body experiences physical trauma, like chronic back pain, the pain signals take two different routes to your brain. One is the obvious physical pathway. The other is emotional, sending signals to the limbic system, the part of your brain that processes your emotions. This is why emotional stress can make physical pain feel worse.
So, if your pain tends to get worse during moments of extreme emotional distress, now you know why. While traditional medicines are non-negotiable for chronic pain management, the way we feel plays just as big a role in our well-being.
This article will explore holistic pain management methods that focus on our body and mind.
But before that, let’s have a brief discussion on:
Medications and Their Complexities in Chronic Pain Management
Alternative medicines or wellness practices have their place. But you need the help of medication to help control the symptoms and improve the quality of your life. However, pain relief medications aren’t risk-free.
Effects vs. Side Effects
First off, effectiveness isn’t everything. NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and opioids might ease your pain, but they come with a baggage of side effects, too.
For instance, apart from the risk of dependency, long-term use of opioids can also lead to issues like gastrointestinal problems, drowsiness, and cognitive effects. Balancing the benefits and risks is crucial in managing chronic pain.
Drug Interactions and Dependencies
Many pain medications are known to interact with other drugs, which can complicate treatment plans. Opioids are particularly tricky. While opioids can offer effective pain relief, their misuse can lead to dependence and addiction.
According to a report by the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 3.8% of the American population falls prey to opioid abuse every year.
In such cases, medications like Suboxone are often prescribed to help individuals manage opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.
It is designed to reduce withdrawal symptoms without causing the same high as traditional opioids. However, even Suboxone itself has tons of side effects, including significant side effects like tooth decay.
The FDA has found 305 cases of dental damage linked to Suboxone, with 37% of patients having multiple teeth damaged and 23.3% needing extractions, even if they had no dental issues before.
TruLaw reports that these risks have led to lawsuits against the drug’s maker, Indivior, for not warning patients and doctors about potential dental problems.
If you or someone you care about has suffered dental damage due to the prescribed use of Suboxone, don’t hesitate to take action. You can hire a personal injury lawyer to file a Suboxone lawsuit.
As per the law, the victim would be entitled to compensation for injuries through the multidistrict litigation (MDL) process. Compensation could depend on several factors, including the extent of the dental damage, medical expenses, and the impact on your quality of life.
Four Holistic Chronic Pain Management Techniques
As promised earlier, here are some proven ways to manage chronic pain by harmonizing both your body and mind:
Acupuncture
You might have heard of acupuncture, but how does it actually help with pain? The process involves inserting tiny needles into specific points on your body. While that certainly sounds intimidating, acupuncture is a century-old technique for reducing pain and improving the flow of energy, especially for conditions like back pain or migraines.
If you’ve been struggling with chronic pain, acupuncture might offer some relief by tapping into your body’s natural healing process.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Stress makes everything feel more intense. Thankfully, meditation and mindfulness can help you calm your mind and shift your focus away from the pain. The calming effect of medication helps lower both physical discomfort and emotional stress.
While it’s not a magical cure for pain, regular practice can change the way your body responds to pain.
Physical Therapy
If you are feeling like your body is stiff or weak due to chronic pain, physical therapy could be highly effective for you.
Your therapist will help you perform targeted mobility exercises and stretches to aid better movement and muscle strength. Techniques like manual therapy, joint mobilizations, stretching, and physical therapy help release tension, increase blood flow, and reduce inflammation in affected areas.
Over time, your therapist will guide you through progressively challenging exercises to help you rebuild your strength and mobility from the ground up.
Massage Therapy
Let’s not confuse luxury spa treatment with massage therapy specially designed for pain management. By applying pressure to your muscles, massage helps release tension, improve circulation, and ease pain in areas like your neck or lower back.
Regular sessions can make a big difference in how your body feels, helping you relax and recover.
Heal From Within
Great things happen when you tune into your body and mind. If you have been suffering for now and wish to discover new paths to relief, now might be a good time to start. You deserve to feel your best, and sometimes, the most effective treatments are the ones that require both your mind and body to work in tandem.
