Chronic pain is a public health crisis with serious implications on people’s lives and economies alike. Persistent pain costs the United States approximately $560 billion each year in medical costs and lost productivity losses alone.
Evidence indicates that non-drug and complementary health approaches may reduce pain, increase coping abilities and promote overall well-being. Nurses must understand these practices to provide appropriate care and support to those using them.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical method which employs needles to promote the flow of vital energy (chi) throughout the body and treat various health problems.
Acupuncture has emerged as a rapidly expanding field in integrative medicine. Used alone or combined with other forms of treatment, acupuncture can help patients manage pain while improving quality of life.
Research has also demonstrated its usefulness for treating various conditions, such as hot flashes, headaches and tinnitus. Furthermore, it may even help control nausea and vomiting caused by surgery or chemotherapy treatments.
However, it should be remembered that improper acupuncture practice may produce unwanted side effects. Therefore, practitioners must be trained in order to safely insert needles and avoid injuries to the skin, blood vessels, or nerves.
Massage
Massage therapy is a noninvasive form of manual therapy that involves manipulating muscle, tendon and ligament tissue with hands or implements for therapeutic effects. Massage can relieve pain as well as improve overall health and wellbeing for its recipients.
Yoga can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and enhance circulation and lymph flow. Furthermore, it may relax muscles and enhance range of motion.
Additional advantages are its ability to activate endorphins – chemical messengers released by your brain that induce feelings of relaxation and well-being – making it useful in treating chronic illnesses or stress-related conditions.
Massage therapy can be an invaluable asset for cancer patients and others who suffer from related immune-based conditions like Lupus. Massage can reduce physical symptoms as well as anxiety or depression and is also recommended as part of treatment plan for these illnesses.
Yoga
Yoga has quickly become a widely practiced form of exercise, with studies proving its efficacy at managing chronic pain. Yoga involves performing poses, breathing exercises and meditation techniques in sequence.
Yoga can be practiced anywhere – be it at home or a studio – and with regular practice can bring many advantages. Yoga has been shown to promote general health and wellbeing, reduce pain and stress levels, build strength and flexibility as well as improve general physical fitness and strength.
Pain can be an emotionally charged experience that triggers our autonomic nervous system and places us into an alert state, leaving us vulnerable and on guard. Yoga helps ease this state by decreasing activation of stress hormones and disarming “fight or flight” mode within our bodies, as well as diminishing catastrophizing that often accompany living with discomfort.
Meditation
Meditation is a mind-body therapy used to reduce pain and stress. Additionally, it has many positive impacts on one’s self-concept and well-being.
Studies have demonstrated the power of meditation to ease chronic pain. Meditation techniques exist for managing multiple conditions, so you may need to experiment until finding one that suits you.
Meditation has been shown to affect four areas of the brain involved in pain processing and regulation: primary somatosensory cortex, anterior insula, prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex.
Diet
Diet is an integral component of leading a healthy lifestyle, providing your body with balanced nutrients needed for growth and repair. Aim for a diverse diet which includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat protein foods as part of an ideal daily routine.
Dairy foods provide calcium, B vitamins, and iodine; while plant-based fat sources (like avocado) should also be consumed to ensure an abundance of unsaturated fatty acids in our diets. When selecting plant-based fat sources be wary of those rich in saturated and trans fatty acids and emphasize more sources with unsaturated fatty acids for maximum nutrition!
Evidence exists of how diet changes can relieve chronic pain (CP), particularly for rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal pain and cancer-related discomfort. Furthermore, micronutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B1-D12+D+E as well as magnesium zinc and beta carotene may also help alleviate symptoms.
