Opioids are highly addictive, even for medical patients taking them as directed, and result in tens of thousands of fatalities a year.
All NSAIDs, including Ibuprofen and Celecoxib (Celebrex), significantly increase the risk of heart attack or stroke in as little as a few weeks of use.
Aspirin can cause GI bleeding and up to 3000 deaths a year. Acetaminophen can cause liver failure.
According to Cindy Perlin, LCSW, pharmaceuticals don’t work that well for chronic pain because they don’t get to the root of the problem.
Perlis says that safe, effective, non-drug treatments for chronic pain include:
- Mind/body approaches including relaxation, biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma resolution techniques, emotional expression techniques, somatic experiencing
- Body-based practices including chiropractic, physical therapy and massage
- Nutrition, vitamins and herbs
- Exercise
- Acupuncture
- Homeopathy
- Low level laser therapy
- Energy healing
All of these treatments address underlying causes of pain. A multidisciplinary approach works best for most people, especially when you keep in mind that pain is not a pharmacological deficiency.
Listen in as Perlin joins hosts Andrea and Lisa to share more about these non-drug options, as well as how truly effective bio-feedback can be in reducing your pain.
Cindy Perlin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified biofeedback practitioner, chronic pain survivor and author of The Truth About Chronic Pain Treatments: The Best and Worst Strategies for Becoming Pain Free. She is a past president of the Northeast Regional Biofeedback Society and a has a Master’s Degree from the State University of Albany School of Social Welfare. Cindy became highly motivated to learn about effective pain management in 1977 when she injured her back and spent the next three-and-a-half years in agonizing pain, barely able to function. She is currently in private practice in Delmar, NY, near Albany, where for the last 25 years she has helped her clients improve their health and well-being.