Healthcare5 Top Non-Drug Pain Relief Technologies

Pain, like it or not, is a reality of life.

Every so often your body will use it to signal to you that something is wrong. Most times, the go-to method of relieving pain is taking a pain reliever, which is likely to be a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Globally, NSAIDs are the most commonly used medications globally, used by 30 million people daily. While it was previously thought that the effects come from long term use, it’s now proven that even low doses of an NSAID can significantly increase intestinal permeability.

Despite their popularity, NSAIDs are known to cause Leaky Gut Syndrome, severe ulcers and gastritis.

This brings forth the question: Are there ways to relieve pain without medication? The good news is, indeed there are.

Below are five technologies you can explore to see what works for your specific pain.

1. Cryotherapy

This is exposing your body to sudden, intense cold that forces your body to release a unique class of proteins. In turn, this release decreases inflammation, speeds up recovery and reduces muscle soreness. Also, fight or flight hormones are released producing feel-good endorphins which elevate your mood.

Cryotherapy is done by taking ice cold baths or using a cryotherapy chamber.

2. Magnets For Pain Management

While scientific studies on magnets for pain have given mixed results, testimonials and reviews from users suggest that some people have seen good outcomes.

Magnet therapy integrates magnets into shoes, bracelets as well as magnetic mattress pads and toppers to create an energy balance. An imbalance crates pain, while a balance relieves pain.

Some of the claimed benefits of using magnets include pain relief from back, knee pain, and migraines, faster healing as well as increased circulation.

3. TENS Pain Relief

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), uses mild electrical currents to relieve pain.

A TENS device has leads connected to sticky pads, which are then placed directly on a patient’s skin. These pads deliver small electrical impulses to affected areas of the body when the machine is switched on.

These electric impulses reduce pain signals going to the brain and spinal cord, which in turn relaxes the muscles and alleviates pain.

A TENS treatment also stimulates the production of endorphins which are a natural painkiller.  This mode of treatment can be used to manage period pain, endometriosis, neck and back pain, sports injuries as well as arthritis.

4. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

This is the stimulation of the right secondary somatosensory motor cortex, which has been shown to produces pain relief in patients with some forms of chronic pain. This can be from the teeth, jaw, neck, head or referred pain from other areas.

This non-invasive procedure requires several sessions for long term pain control in patients with chronic pain. TMS is also useful in treating major depression.

5. Floatation Tanks

Another way to relieve pain is a floatation tank, also known as a sensory deprivation tank. This pain relief therapy uses a water-filled tank, typically the size of a bed.

Water is heated to skin temperature and saturated with Epsom salts, which allow the patient to float effortlessly.

Patients remove their clothes and switch off the lights to prevent any distractions. The goal is to focus inward, devoid of external stimuli and calm the mind and body.

Without external stimuli, the fight or flight response is negated. Fight or flight is believed to be a mainstay of the stress response, which is notable in many patients with chronic pain. Eliminating or creating coping mechanisms help decrease pain sensitivity.

This treatment can be successful in patients with fibromyalgia, arthritis, sports injuries, and pregnancy-related discomfort.

 Word of Caution

While noting that these treatments have had significant successes, it’s imperative to get clearance from a doctor before commencing treatment.

As with any other treatment, including drug-based treatment, some underlying conditions can be made worse by some forms of treatments. This necessitates an evaluation from your health provider before abandoning current treatment for alternative methods.

This post was sponsored by Andrej Kovacevic