Pain Management Center in Pennsylvania
Pain Management and Alternative Treatments
The overarching goal of pain management treatments is to return a patient to a high quality of life. To some degree, medications are a critical component when building a plan to fight lasting pain, but other, alternative treatments like yoga, chiropractic therapy, and nutritional guidance can also be beneficial to your regimen.
Often described as an alternative therapy, medical treatment used in place of or in conjunction with conventional medicine can yield positive results. Many treatments can fall into this category including but not limited to acupuncture, chiropractic alignment, yoga, aromatherapy, meditation, and many more.
Yoga and Stretching
Physical therapy is a key component of pain management. One way to incorporate strength and stretching exercises is to practice yoga. Yoga comes in many forms, but generally, most disciplines focus on learning specific poses, called asanas. When practicing yoga, there is usually a call to participate in specific breathing exercises.
One study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that among 313 people with chronic low back pain, a weekly yoga class increased mobility more than conventional medical care for the condition.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation. The hypothesis is that the alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure – namely, the spine – will allow the body to heal itself from injury more quickly, and perhaps, without further surgery or lasting medication.
The bulk of research on chiropractic therapy has focused on low back pain and has found positive outcomes as a result of spinal manipulation. For example, the American College of Physicians recommends spinal manipulation along with heat, massage, and acupuncture to combat lower back pain.
Nutrition and Vitamins
With a national discussion on opioid overuse and dependency, it is natural for a person seeking to manage pain to turn to other oral remedies by examining their diet or turning to natural vitamins. For many working towards lasting pain management, the goal of living a high quality of life is a priority, and to accomplish that aim, opioid use for pain management is often essential and appropriate.
Inflammation after an injury is the immune system’s response to different toxins, while this is a natural bodily function, the resulting inflammation causes pain in the body. While more research is needed, many believe that ingesting plant proteins that carry anti-inflammatory agents can help reduce pain by curbing inflammation.
Experts in the field of nutritional pain argue that eight to nine servings of vegetables each day can be most helpful in reducing pain. Try to eat cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower for best results.
Alternative Treatments for Pain Management
Finding a primary caregiver willing to communicate and to organize a holistic treatment plan that includes medications, physical therapy, and nutritional advice will result in the best pain management outcomes. Finding an individualized balance that can incorporate both the treatments that your physician believes to be best as well as any special or alternative treatments.
We’ve recognized that there are many providers of care but not many providers who care!
That is why we wake up every day to serve those in the local community who deserve the best care following work injury, car accident, which results in Back Pain, Neck Pain, Shoulder Pain, Concussion, Headaches, etc.