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Mind-Body Therapies that I’ve tried successfully have included
meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, and cognitive behavioral therapy. I found
that these alternative therapies are individual specific, which means that what
works for one person doesn’t always work for another.
I used meditation to relax my muscles and minds and
temporarily eased my lower back pains. Meditation has been shown to increase
activity in parts of the brain associated with positive emotional states.
Biofeedback is another alternative to painkillers that is
similar to meditation where the individual uses techniques to control their
heart rate, muscle tensions, breathing, skin temperature, and blood pressure to
relieve stress and chronic pain.
Biofeedback has been shown to be beneficial in treating about
150 medical conditions, including migraines, arthritis and fibromyalgia.
A main goal of hypnosis is to change your perception of pain.
Studies suggest hypnosis can ease different types of pain, including lower back,
tension headache, osteoarthritis, and chronic pain. But more research is needed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people recognized and
change their negative behaviors may help relieve the pain that can accompany
disabling diseases. For example, Duke University researchers have developed a
talk therapy program for arthritis patients and their partners.
As a tri-sports athlete, I have always dealt with the minor
pains and soreness after each sporting outings. I found that the old standby of
heat and cold therapy works best for me. Doctors state that applying heating
pads or cold packs to sore joints and muscles may ease pain temporarily. But
they warned that arthritis patients should consult their physical therapists
before trying this alternative to pain killers. Health officials also warned
that patients with poor circulation should not use cold packs.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TEN) is another
alternative to pain killer that many patients have tried to ease their pains and
discomforts. You basically wear a small portable electric stimulation unit that
help to ease pain temporarily by blocking pain messages to the brain and
modifying pain perception health experts say. The unit sends mild electric
pulses to the nerve endings under the skin in the painful area.
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