Safe, Natural Remedies for Chronic Pain

It’s ironic, is it not, that patients with pain are frequently prescribed opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone even though  these dangerous and highly addictive drugs cause the most overdose deaths in the US?

In fact opioids are widely considered the least safe medications for long-term chronic pain management due to high risks of addiction, dependence, respiratory depression, and overdose. To add insult to injury, they may even worsen chronic pain, a phenomenon known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia.

Fortunately, there are many noninvasive, nonpharmacologic approaches can improve pain and function without risk for serious harms, including:

• Cannabis medicine, including non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD)
• Physical exercise, like aerobic, aquatic, weights, yoga, etc.
• Mindful/stress reduction practices, such as yoga, tai chi, and qigong
• Weight loss – Losing as little as 10% of body weight can significantly reduce chronic pain, especially in the joints, back, and knees, by lowering physical strain and reducing systemic inflammation
• Psychological therapies – A structured, goal-oriented process for treating mental health conditions and life stressors
• Manual therapies – Hands-on techniques used to treat musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. These therapies aim to improve mobility, reduce pain, and enhance overall physical function
• Acupuncture – A Traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves the safe use of needles inserted through the skin to relieve pain, reduce nausea, and treat various chronic conditions
• Massage Swedish (gentle, for relaxation), Deep Tissue (intense, for knot release), Sports (performance/recovery), Hot Stone (using heat), and Shiatsu (pressure points)
• Spinal manipulation – A hands-on therapy using controlled force, thrusts, or pressure on spinal joints to improve pain, function, and mobility