According to the American Pain Foundation, more than 50 million Americans experience chronic pain. Back pain, headache, and joint pain caused by osteoarthritis are the most common chronic pain syndromes (like Fibromyalgia).  The experience of chronic pain exacts a huge toll on the individual and the family.   Pain may prevent a person from working, socializing, or enjoying a family life. It is associated with depressed mood and a poor quality of life.  The consequences for society include lower productivity for businesses and a cost of billions of dollars each year.

Among the modalities that now are being explored as treatments for chronic pain are numerous approaches that usually are considered out of mainstream medicine-the so-called complementary and alternative medical treatments.  Many specialists in pain management view the integration of traditional treatment approaches and a wide range of complementary and alternative medicine approaches as the ideal goal for many types of chronic pain. "Integrative Pain Therapy" is a term that has been used to describe this effort to link these traditional and nontraditional approaches. Our team use this natural approach to pain relief.

Because chronic pain is so complex, there are often multiple treatment goals.  These goals may include more comfort ,becoming "pain-free", better physical functioning, improved coping and less distress, getting back to work, improving range of motion, and other positive outcomes. To accomplish these goals, chronic pain often is best managed using what is called a "multi-modality" natural approach.
 

There are many tools available to help reduce the debilitating effects of acute and chronic stress.  The most important approach is to recognize triggers and behavior patterns, and to utilize emotional and spiritual approaches to reverse stress's negative effects. These approaches can be learned in a variety of ways, such as psychotherapy, education, and training in mind-body techniques.  The therapies chosen are tailored to the individual, based on each person's unique condition.

A multi-modality approach to chronic pain includes a combination of therapies selected from eight broad categories: the areas bolded are the avenues we explore

• drug therapies
• mind body coaching therapies
• rehabilitative/ massage  therapies
• anesthesiological therapies
• surgical therapies
• lifestyle changes
• complementary and alternative medicine therapies

We do our best to fully utilize these wonderful pain-controlling therapeutic options, not only to reduce our patients' pain, but also to help effect an improvement of their functionality in their lives. We use natural therapies to complete the treatment plan that you and your doctor have already agreed upon.

Whether your goals are to return to work quickly, to spend more pain-free time with your family and friends, or simply to achieve through pain-reduction a less stressful quality of daily life, our goal is to help you to maximize the achievement of your goals.

Effective pain management is therefore collaborative in nature, involving good communication among the patient, family, and the practitioners involved in the care. A sense of partnership in trying to find the best therapeutic approach promotes the most creative, and ultimately the most effective, approaches. Patient-practitioner partnership can maximize the patient's involvement and sense of control in the healing process. Patients must feel empowered to seek the best care and to act in a way that uses their own resources in the service of health. If an interdisciplinary team of practitioners is involved in developing a multimodality approach, the members must communicate freely to ensure the appropriate targeting of therapy. Family communication helps promote positive patterns within the family and may reduce the stress caused by prolonged pain and impaired function.

The goals of a natural pain therapeutic approach may include:

• reducing or eliminating pain
• reducing distress and enhancing comfort, peace of mind and quality of life
• improving the understanding of the role of emotions, behavior and attitudes in pain
• improving the ability to function physically and perform activities of daily living
• improving the ability to function in social and family roles
• supporting the patient's ability to return to work and function on the job
• educating patients in ways to maintain rehabilitation gains and avoid re-injury
• empowering patients to actively participate in pain control strategies
• promoting awareness and understanding of the factors that contribute to physical and emotional distress related to pain
• developing the skills and knowledge needed to increase the patient's sense of control over pain

Relaxation Techniques 

Meditation, biofeedback, guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, hypnosis are mind/body self-regulatory skills beneficial in pain management.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a highly relaxed, trance-like state in which the conscious or rational part of the brain is temporarily tuned out through a focus on relaxation and non-attention to distracting thoughts.  During hypnosis, changes like those found in meditation can occur, such as a slowing of the pulse and respiration, and an increase in alpha brain waves.  The person may become more open to specific suggestions and therapeutic goals such as pain reduction.  In the post-suggestion phase, the continued use of the new behavior after the hypnosis session is reinforced.

Guided Imagery

Imagery is the use of imagined pictures, sounds, or sensations for generalized relaxation or for specific therapeutic goals, such as the reduction of pain. These images can be initiated by the patient or guided by a practitioner. The sessions in which imagery is used can be individual or group.

Relaxation Therapies

Relaxation therapies include a range of techniques such as autogenic training, various forms of meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and paced respiration.  The goal of these therapeutic approaches is overall relaxation and stress reduction.

Prayer

Prayer is not usually considered a mind-body or a psychological approach, but it is worthwhile considering it in this context of mind/body treatments.  Changes in the concept of health and illness, a broadening view of healing and curing, and interest in other cultural systems of medicine have created a growing openness to the spiritual dimensions of health.

Brief progressive muscle relaxation 

Starting from head to feet, or feet to head (in general start away from the pain); gently tensing and relaxing muscle groups.  AVOID tensing muscles directly around the pain.  An alternative method is to gently relax your muscles without first tensing.  "I am bringing my awareness to my right foot and letting the muscles of my right foot soften and relax.   Letting them become warm and heavy."   Let the bed or chair support your body.

Massage therapy from a skilled, trained practitioner can help with many types of muscular pain.   Look on our Massage Therapy Page or Everyone Benefits Page to learn more.