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2 Ways To Manage Chronic Pain Without Medication

9 February 2022 by Alexis Montgomery

According to a National Health Survey given in 2019, 20.4% of adults deal with chronic pain, and 7.4% of adults dealt with chronic pain that was so serious that it had an impact on their ability to engage in work and life activities within three months of the study being given.   

Chronic pain can have a severe impact on one's ability to lead an everyday life and can have severe impacts on one's mental health. That is why it is so important to find ways to deal with the chronic pain that you experience.  

Way #1: Virtual Reality  

An emerging way to deal with chronic pain is through the use of virtual reality. Just throwing on a virtual reality headset isn't going to cure one's pain; you need to use the right program.   

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a virtual reality headset that uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help adults suffering from chronic pain. This device is designed for at-home therapeutic usage.   

With an in-home therapeutic virtual reality program, the patient can work through a series of sessions designed to last over a set period of weeks. These sessions use a proven therapeutic method called cognitive behavioral therapy in a virtual setting. The VR headset allows for that therapy to be delivered in a comfortable setting that is designed to be relaxing for the patient.   

The VR headset is used to teach you established techniques that will help you deal with chronic pain, such as learning how to shift your attention away from the pain and how to achieve a state of deep relaxation. It teaches techniques that will help you mentally manage your pain and redirect your brain.   

Virtual reality pain management is a great option if you want to get treatment at home and you don't want to take medication to deal with your pain.

Way #2: Physical Therapy  

If you are dealing with chronic pain, it is essential to deal with what is causing your pain. Often, physical therapy can be used to address the physical cause of your pain. Physical therapy can help reduce pain and can help prevent your pain from being chronic.  

With physical therapy regarding pain management, the focus is often on improving your overall muscle function. Improving your muscle function in the area where your pain is originating from, such as your lower back, can help to strengthen your muscles and thus reduce strain on your body. This can reduce the pain you experience and help reduce the risk of injury and the risk of pain in the future.   

If you want to treat your chronic pain without medication, physical therapy can help strengthen your body and reduce the occurrence of pain. Virtual reality therapy can help you learn how to mentally deal with pain and redirect your thoughts through cognitive behavioral therapy.   

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