Rx Pain Medications
Managing Your Pain
Which Approach Is Right For You?
Although prescription pain medications can be effective at treating certain types of pain, there are different treatment options and therapies available. Whether one approach is safer and more effective than another will depend on your unique situation.
Do not use this information to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Use this information to help you discuss your pain management options with your provider so that together you can identify the most effective approach to your care. This list is not exhaustive.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a practice that involves the stimulation of specific points on the body, usually through the insertion of thin needles into the skin. ¹
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping patients change their thinking patterns in order to change unhealthy behavior or moods. ⁴ Sessions involve structured meetings with a trained mental health counselor or psychologist for a limited amount of time. ⁴ Cognitive behavioral therapy often involves relaxation exercises, journal writing, and certain stress and pain relief methods.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic care typically involves manipulation or adjustment of the spine and other parts of the body by a chiropractor or osteopath.² ³ Chiropractors are health care professionals who are licensed by the state in which they practice.⁵
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy may have many different forms, but typically massage therapy involves the manipulation of soft tissue for health-related issues.³
1 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016). Pain: Considering complementary approaches. Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/pain/ebook
2 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016). Chiropractic: An introduction. Retrieved from https://nccih. nih.gov/sites/nccam.nih.gov/files/D403_06-07-2012.pdf
3 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016). Get the facts: Yoga for health. Retrieved from https://nccih. nih.gov/sites/nccam.nih.gov/files/Get_The_Facts_Yoga_for_Health_06-04-2013 (2).pdf
4 National Institute of Mental Health. (2016). Psychotherapies. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/psychotherapies/index.shtml
5 American Physical Therapy Association. (2017). Choosing your physical therapist: How to choose a physical therapist. Retrieved from http://www.moveforwardpt.com/Resources/Choose.aspx#.VPSfD_nF-3c