Alternative Pain Management Methods

By Leah Rampolla

Those who participate in full contact sports such as roller derby often suffer from sprained and strained muscles, internal and external bruising, abrasions, and the occasional fractured bone. The obvious pain management solution for these types of sports related injuries is traditional Western medicine and methods. A trip to the doctor for a prescription for pain relief in pill form or a trip to the drug store for some encapsulated over the counter pain relief is the general pain remedy for most Westerners.


Alternative pain management methods such as acupuncture are becoming more recognized in the West and the acceptance is becoming more wide spread.

Acupuncture, the Chinese practice of the insertion of needles into specific areas of the body to facilitate pain relief, is becoming recognized and accepted as an effective pain management technique. The Chinese believe that acupuncture is an effective means of pain management for a numbers of diseases and maladies and is practiced widely in the East. Western medicine is becoming more accepting of acupuncture as a pain management technique. Many acupuncture patients claim almost immediate pain relief and no side effects from acupuncture treatments.

Many Westerners are beginning to embrace alternative pain management methods instead of or in conjunction with tradition pain management methods more than ever before. Yoga, crystal healing, and herbal remedies are all increasing in popularity and gaining validity as effective pain management techniques. Alternative pain management techniques such as yoga offer the patient additional benefits such as increased strength and cardiovascular fitness, improved breathing techniques, and calmness of mind. Many little known alternative pain management techniques are often just as or more effective than traditional pain relief methods and are worth exploring.

If your living with pain in New Jersey and want more information feel free to call (732)226-2153.

Searching for Doctor Pain

When I was in the 8th grade, I threw my back out in between bells and have had chronic back pain since.  As a dancer, this did not help my profession.  Now, at 31, I still wake up with the aches.  If I sleep in a weird position, on a different bed (hotel mattresses are the worst), or have my neck elevated even slightly too high or too low, my poor back throbs.  I have tried yoga, Pilates, stretching, massages, flipping my mattress, getting new mattresses, sleeping on alternate sides of the bed, hot showers, you name it.  Not wanting to take a Bayer everyday like an oldster, I began researching other alternatives.  Advancing technology has taken on a whole new spectrum of therapies for chronic back pain.  Surgery may be an option, but now there are many outpatient procedures that provide back pain relief.     Here are important things I have found out in my quest for pain relief - Find a great doctor.

The internet is a wonderful tool in researching doctors in your area and beyond that have the specific qualifications you are looking for.  Do your homework.  When searching for a doctor, make sure he/she is well versed in spine pain management, pain relief, and chronic back pain issues.  Also, treat your first visit with them as a test.  You want your doctor to take your symptoms seriously and show genuine concern.  Your doctor should focus on you, not themselves, and make secure eye contact.  It is also imperative that your new doctor be knowledgeable of advanced therapies and alternative medicines.  Keep in mind that doctors see a lot of patients.  You must place emphasis on your most important issues and symptoms.  Some doctors have a habit of honing in on key words you mention and making quick diagnoses.  It's important that your doctor listen to your specific problems and develop a few different resolutions.  By following these simple practices, you will be able to find a great doctor who can lead you to the road to recovery.