What Is Pain Management?

Here are some techniques to help control and reduce your pain that doesn’t require an invasive procedure:

Cold and heat: You have probably used these methods before because they are the two tried-and-true methods and are the cornerstone to relieving pain. If using a homemade hot or cold pack isn’t doing the trick, then you should try asking someone on our team at Bluestone for different versions of these treatments, with the hopes of penetrating deeper into the muscle and tissue.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy: These two specialties can be your biggest ally against pain. Physical therapists can guide you through a series of exercises designed to preserve or improve your strength and mobility. Occupational therapists can also help you learn to perform a range of daily activities in a way that doesn’t aggravate your pain.

Music therapy: Studies have shown that music can help relieve pain during and after surgery and even during childbirth. Classical music has proven to work especially well, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try listening to your favorite genre. The act of listening to any kind of music can distract you from any pain or discomfort.

Therapeutic massage: Not just an indulgence, massage can ease pain by working tension out of muscles and joints, relieving stress and anxiety, and possibly helping to distract you from pain by introducing a “competing” sensation that overrides pain signals.

Mind-body techniques: These techniques, which include meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises (among many others), help you restore a sense of control over your body and turn down the “fight or flight” response, which can worsen chronic muscle tension and pain.

Yoga and tai chi: These two exercise practices incorporate breath control, meditation, and gentle movements to stretch and strengthen muscles. Many studies have shown that they can help people manage pain caused by a host of conditions, from headaches to arthritis to lingering injuries.

Exercise: Physical activity can actually play a crucial role in interrupting the “vicious cycle” of pain and reduced mobility found in some chronic conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. You might consider trying gentle aerobic activities such as walking, swimming, or cycling.