Drug-free pain relief methods for home

There are many kinds of pain relief methods that work in different ways. One works better for one thing, another for something else. What you choose and how you apply it matters.

Medications

Nowadays it's natural to relieve pain with medication. You just take a pill and feel better (for a while, until it leaves your system). If the pain lasts only a short time (e.g., ankle sprain, muscle strain), you'll need medications only for a few days. This usually doesn't cause side effects.

With chronic diseases (e.g., inflammatory joint diseases (arthritis) or wear-and-tear (osteoarthritis), rheumatism, etc.) the condition can last for years. With long-term use, most medications will almost certainly cause undesirable effects (side effects). It's enough to read the possible side effects section in your medication leaflet.

Drug-free pain relief methods

There are pain relief methods that a doctor or other therapist may apply. For example: anesthesia (injectable block near nerves), neurosurgical procedures (nerve cutting), acupuncture (needle method), psychological methods (e.g., hypnotherapy).

If you have read my blog and my articles before, you know that I don't write about medications or treatments performed by doctors (you can find information about those in thousands of other places). In my articles I focus on scientifically supported, medically validated methods that the patient can apply without a doctor's presence. Moreover, these are mostly completely drug- and side-effect-free.

By applying these you can help alleviate your complaints yourself.

What should I do when pain appears unexpectedly?

The meaning of acute disease: "a condition, phenomenon, or symptom that appears suddenly without prior warning."

In such situations it is very important to determine the cause of the pain as soon as possible, because treatment depends on it.

Of course there are acute pains with obvious causes. These are caused by an accident or injury. If you hit your finger with a hammer, you may have only a "benign" tissue bruise that could be treated with cooling and pain relief. But there may also be a fracture that needs immobilization, otherwise it won't heal properly. If you mask the early signs of appendicitis with painkillers, you might not notice a rupture and put yourself in a serious condition. So your first step should be to see a doctor.

This is even more important for "internal" complaints! Chest pains (tightness, pressure, pain radiating to the arm, sharp pain on breathing, etc.) and abdominal pains (stabbing, cramping, pain radiating to the genital area) can be caused by conditions that may become life-threatening without immediate intervention. Do not wait! See a doctor!

Pain relief methods for acute pain

For acute pains, the following physiotherapy methods can be applied at home:

• Cold therapy: for fresh injuries, blows, kicks, strains, sprains, tears, and bruising it has an immediate pain-reducing effect. It constricts blood vessels, thereby reducing swelling and bleeding.
• TENS (nerve stimulation) treatment: a simple treatment used for over half a century to treat musculoskeletal pain. Its effect is pain-reducing; its healing effect is negligible.
• MENS (microcurrent nerve stimulation) treatment: one of the newest electrotherapy procedures and more effective at pain relief than TENS. More than 90% of those treated report symptom relief. The main strength of microcurrent, however, is its healing effect. By eliminating the "injury current" it stimulates the healing process. It increases cellular energy (ATP) production 5–8 fold.
• Ultrasound treatment: ultrasound is a mechanical energy modality recommended primarily for inflammatory complaints. It stimulates healing and reduces pain.
• Softlaser treatment: softlaser is primarily applicable for joint, tendon, ligament and muscle pain. It is also excellent for relieving facial nerve pain (e.g., trigeminal neuralgia), ENT-related pain, and dental pain.

What should I do when an old pain flares up?

The meaning of chronic disease: "a long-standing and protracted phenomenon or illness."

Pain is most often caused by musculoskeletal diseases. There are roughly a hundred types of inflammatory joint disease (arthritis, rheumatism) and degenerative conditions (osteoarthritis), as well as ligament, tendon and tendon sheath inflammations.

These conditions typically "fluctuate," meaning sometimes better, sometimes worse. Doctors call the worsening a "flare-up." Your chronic disease may be long-known and you receive treatment, but occasionally symptoms intensify (due to weather changes, unusual strain, or even for no apparent reason). In case of symptom worsening for a known reason, consult your doctor if you experience not just your "usual" complaints but also new symptoms.

Your treating physician should prepare you for these flare-ups. They should tell you what to do, which pain relief methods to use. You can relieve pain with medication. But because your chronic disease lasts a long time, you will almost certainly experience side effects. Stomach problems, ulcers, bleeding, bone marrow damage, blood formation disorders, weakened immunity, liver and kidney damage—these are just a few of the possible "results."

For musculoskeletal diseases you can use physiotherapy devices designed for home use as alternatives to medications. These mostly have no side effects; if any occur, they are usually due to incorrect use. By following the instructions for use you can avoid them.

Pain relief methods for chronic pain

Methods that can be used for long-term treatment of chronic pain and to reduce flare-ups include the following:

• TENS (nerve stimulation) treatment: a simple treatment used for over half a century to treat musculoskeletal pain. Its effect is pain-reducing; its healing effect is negligible.
• MENS (microcurrent nerve stimulation) treatment: one of the newest electrotherapy procedures and more effective at pain relief than TENS. More than 90% of those treated report symptom relief. The main strength of microcurrent, however, is its healing effect. By eliminating the "injury current" it stimulates the healing process. It increases cellular energy (ATP) production 5–8 fold.
• Softlaser treatment: softlaser is primarily applicable for joint, tendon, ligament and muscle pain. It is also excellent for relieving facial nerve pain, ENT-related pain, and dental pain.
• Ultrasound treatment: ultrasound is a mechanical energy modality recommended primarily for inflammatory complaints. It stimulates healing and reduces pain. It is also suitable for relieving muscle and tendon stiffness and for some cosmetic uses (acne-prone skin, cellulite treatment, fat reduction).
• Iontophoresis: allows you to deliver active substances locally into the skin and joints. It is generally used for sports injuries, joint pain treatment, and to enhance cosmetic agents. Tap-water iontophoresis is excellent for treating palmar, plantar and underarm hyperhidrosis that do not respond to other treatments.
• Magnetic therapy: in Western Europe magnetic therapy is a recognized physiotherapy tool, while at home it is unjustly sidelined. It is biostimulatory, i.e., it stimulates healing and regenerative processes. It is mainly used in medical practice for long-standing musculoskeletal conditions (osteoporosis, bone fractures, osteoarthritis, arthritis, etc.).
• Deep heat therapy: primarily relieves chronic musculoskeletal pain and tendon and muscle stiffness (e.g., osteoarthritis, heel spurs, Achilles tendon pain, Dupuytren's contracture, etc.).

If you use the device for its intended purpose and follow the user instructions, the treatment is safe, harmless and effective!