Chronic Pain

Manual therapy

For back pain, Reference physical therapy Opens New Window, Reference osteopathic care, or Reference chiropractic care usually includes Reference spinal manipulation, which is a kind of Reference manual therapy Opens New Window. It involves working on the head, shoulders, neck, back, or hips. It can range from massage and slow pressing to a quick thrust. Your care provider may also use hot and cold therapy to relieve pain.

You may also learn stretching and Reference range-of-motion Opens New Window exercises to maintain strength, flexibility, and mobility.

TENS

Reference Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) applies brief pulses of electricity to nerve endings in the skin to relieve chronic pain.

Counseling

It's common to respond to chronic pain with feelings of frustration, depression, anxiety, fear, and even anger. These feelings can make it tough to conquer chronic pain, especially if you use alcohol or drugs to manage your symptoms.

A counselor may use treatments such as Reference cognitive-behavioral therapy Opens New Window to help you cope with your pain.

Support groups

A support group is made up of people with similar experiences who can understand your feelings and provide comfort. They can keep you from feeling isolated and alone.

Being around others who share your problem can help you and your family learn how to accept and manage chronic pain.

To find a group near you, contact the American Chronic Pain Association at 1-800-533-3231 or online at www.theacpa.org.

Complementary therapies

Trying one or more of these complementary therapies may reduce pain, help you cope with stress, and improve your emotional and physical well-being:

• Reference Acupuncture
• Reference Aromatherapy
• Reference Biofeedback
• Reference Guided imagery
• Reference Healing touch
• Reference Homeopathy
• Reference Hydrotherapy
• Reference Hypnosis
• Reference Magnet field therapy
• Reference Massage
• Reference Meditation
• Reference Naturopathy
• Reference Yoga

If you decide to try one or more of these complementary therapies to treat your chronic pain, find a health professional who has special training and, whenever possible, certification in the particular therapy.

You may get a referral from someone you trust such as your doctor, family, or friends. Make sure all of your health professionals know every type of treatment you are using to reduce chronic pain.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.