5 tools to relieve chronic pain without pain medication

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A while back I wrote a post called “5 tools for chronic pain.” A lot has changed in my life and in my health since then so I thought it was time for an update. I’m a big proponent of allowing people with chronic pain access to medication stronger than Tylenol, but the reality is that most people with chronic pain are either under medicated or not medicated at all. The medical system no longer recognizes chronic pain as a valid condition, and so we must all find ways to cope the best we can. So here’s a few of my favorite tools for coping with pain. None of them are cures, none of them compare to the relief provided by appropriate pain medication, but they can alleviate some of the pain.

The medical system no longer recognizes chronic pain as a valid condition, and so we must all find ways to cope the best we can. Click To Tweet

1. Heating pad

This is probably the simplest tool I use to help cope with pain. I could not live without my heating pad. Even in the dead of summer when it’s 100 degrees outside I still use it, because it’s the only way I can get so sleep. I don’t enjoy being sweaty, but I’ll deal with whatever works. I’ve tried every kind of heating pad available and my favorites are this extra large heating pad, and a shoulder heating pad.

 

 

2. Epsom salts bath

I like to take a hot bath with epsom salts every night before I go to bed. This one does fall by the wayside in the summer (no one likes to sweat while they’re in the bathtub), but it does help me to relax my muscles that have been tensed in pain all day. I started using epsom salts after I found out my nephews used them to soak their muscles after football practice. It seemed to me that my normal pain level is probably similar to theirs after an all day practice, so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try. It’s not a miracle cure, but I can tell the difference between when I use them and when I don’t.

3. Pain relief devices

I’ve tried quite a few of these and the two I keep coming back to are Quell pain relief and a TENS device.

Quell pain relief

I’ve had my Quell device for over two years, and I still use it on a regular basis. It’s stopped working a few times (it was immediately replaced at no cost to me), and I could tell the difference in my pain levels. Again, it’s not a miracle cure, but every little bit helps.

TENS Unit

There are a million different kinds of these and I imagine some are better than others. I bought mine off amazon for a decent price, but I know others have gotten expensive ones paid for by their insurance. Unlike the Quell device, TENS is only useful for temporary pain relief, but sometimes that’s all I’m looking for.

4. Pain relieving creams

I tried a million different pain relieving creams and so far my two favorites are Fay Farms CBD rub and Biofreeze. Biofreeze is the easiest to obtain because you can find it on amazon, or even at Walmart. Fay Farms CBD rub is probably my favorite though. It’s a bit greasy, but it works and is longer lasting than many other pain creams.

5. Gentle Yoga

I promise I’m not recommending the crazy body bending kind of yoga. You can find all sorts of yoga routines on YouTube: yoga for pain, yoga for chronic fatigue, yoga for bedtime etc. Doing a few minutes of gentle yoga every night and every morning helps to loosen up my muscles. Nighttime yoga also helps me to get into a better frame of mind for sleep. It’s not the cure that people who’ve never experienced chronic pain think it is, but it can help to stretch sore muscles.

I wish these things were a magic cure for chronic pain, but they are not. What they can do it help to manage your pain when its at it’s lower levels.