The beautiful thing about the 21st century is that there tend to be numerous ways to treat various illnesses. When it comes to pain, you’ve got options.
There must be options for the treatment of pain, too, considering many of the medications used might be dangerous for particular individuals to use. Whether you’ve got a preexisting condition or you’re trying to avoid addictive painkillers, it helps to know your options.
We’re going to look at a few different types of pain management today, giving you some insight into the options that are available to you. Let’s get started.
5 Different Types of Pain Management
1. Nonopioid Pain Medication
The first place to look when you have mild pain is the nonopioid category. These tend to be the medications you can buy over the counter, and they’re all relatively cheap.
One of the best parts about nonopioids is the fact that they aren’t addictive. They treat pain, but there’s no risk of dependency.
They might not be as powerful as most opioids, but they’ll get the job done and help you get through the ailment you’re facing.
Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are two of the most common options that you’ve no doubt tried.
These are great options for times when you have inflammation, headaches, sore muscles, or other mild conditions that require a little pain relief.
2. Opioids
Opioids are a category of drug that operates on our opioid receptors. They interact with the central nervous system in a way that disrupts our normal experience of pain. The intense pain signals coming from the affected area are interrupted, and you don’t experience the same sensation.
It’s a beautiful thing for people who are going through surgery, have a massive injury, or experience chronic pain for several reasons. The difficult thing, though, is that opioids have a high risk for dependency.
They’re very addictive, and they pose the threat of overdose. Taking too much of an opioid is a swift way for your central nervous system to shut down. When that shuts down, there’s a good chance that your body will fail in one way or another.
So, opioids are an effective way to treat intense pain under the supervision of a doctor. If you’re considering taking opioids on your own without a professional recommendation, it’s important that you rethink that decision and examine the risks.
Doctors can help you approach the use of opioids in a healthy way. They’ll fine-tune your dosages, help you avoid dependency, and make sure that your painkiller regimen is intended to treat your specific issue.
3. Hemp Options
Another recent development in the pain management world is the introduction of hemp products. CBD is a cannabinoid produced in hemp and cannabis plants that is very effective at treating pain.
While more research has to be done to understand the extent of the effects, CBD is widely used in personal and medical situations to treat pain. The great thing about CBD is that it’s natural, there’s no risk for dependency, and there’s no risk for overdose.
You can ingest, rub, or smoke CBD. There are other options, but those are the most common ways to use the substance. If you have a sore back, for example, a strong CBD rub will address the pain in the target area.
If you’re skeptical about how well it works, the only thing you can do is give it a try! Seek out CBD if you don’t want to risk dependency on opioids or can’t tolerate nonopioid pain relievers for a medical reason.
4. Magnetic Therapies
One form of alternative medicine that you might not have heard of is magnetic therapy.
The idea is that all of the cells of your body (and your body itself) have a magnetic field. Ailments of the body and mind can arise from imbalances in that field.
The nature of those ailments might come in several different forms, but there’s an ideal balance in your body, and harmony comes from an in-tune magnetic field. Getting that field back in balance can be a difficult thing.
Magnetic bracelets are a popular way to try and achieve a better sense of magnetic balance. You can take a peek at how to buy the best magnetic bracelet if you’re interested in finding out more.
We should note that it’s important to treat specific issues in other ways when they arise. Magnetic therapies are good for achieving general balance or maintaining your current health, but not necessarily for addressing an injury, for example.
5. Mind-Body Therapies
If you’re not one for medications, several therapies can help you get your body in order and relieve pain.
Physical therapy is one excellent way to relieve muscular pain. Physical therapists are trained at identifying and treating particular ailments through a process of stretching and exercise.
In many ways, these therapies are the best way to prevent further pain because they strengthen the affected areas. Another excellent option is the practice of yoga.
Yoga allows you to access and stretch parts of your body that you weren’t previously aware of. Yoga is an ancient practice, so there’s a myriad of ways to treat various illnesses, pains, and issues of the mind and body.
One of the beautiful things about yoga is that it allows you to develop the awareness of the body needed to notice pain when it arises. Further, it keeps your muscles limber so that pain and inflammation are less likely to build up.
Other forms of mind-body therapy tend to have the same purpose. When you’re in good health, or you feel like you might be getting out of shape, introducing one of these practices is a good way to keep your health in a good spot.
Want to Learn More about Types of Pain Management?
Knowing the different types of pain management is important. When pain arises, it helps to know how to treat it in the safest, most effective way.
We’re here to help you learn more. Explore our site for more insight into pain relief, pain management techniques, and more.
