6 Drug-Free Solutions for Chronic Pain

In conventional medicine, prescription medications are often the go-to solution for chronic pain. But, these medications can have addictive qualities and may cause a host of unwanted side effects. 

Drug-free pain management is possible. At Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture, Clinical Director and Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Kierstin Beaman, DACM, LAc, offers several effective, cutting-edge therapies to help you manage chronic pain. 

Drug-free therapies are effective in decreasing pain and improving function. Research on veterans also shows that avoiding drugs prevents long-term complications, such as substance use disorder and self-harm. 

Here are six non-pharmacological therapies Dr. Beamon offers to help you manage chronic pain.

1. Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves penetrating key points in the skin with thin metallic needles. It’s an ancient practice of traditional Chinese medicine, but it has very modern applications. 

Acupuncture is an evidence-based solution to chronic pain and offers solutions for complex internal conditions, including fertility, thyroid disorders, and digestive problems. 

Dr. Beaman uses acupuncture to treat many types of chronic pain, including musculoskeletal, headache, and osteoarthritis pain.

2. Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture uses electricity to enhance the benefits of traditional acupuncture. When the needles are applied to your skin, Dr. Beamon connects an electrode that transmits a small amount of electricity to create a subtle vibration or soft hum during treatment. 

Electroacupuncture stimulates your sympathetic nerve fibers, causing you to release endorphins — your body’s natural pain killers. The activated nerve fibers also help reduce persistent pain. Dr. Beaman recommends electroacupuncture for pain conditions, including neuropathy and arthritis.

3. Ozone therapy

Ozone is a type of oxygen (O2) with a third atom (O3). Your body uses ozone for healing, reducing inflammation, and immunity boosting. Ozone therapy improves your levels of oxygen that helps your body naturally heal.

Talk to Dr. Beaman about using ozone therapy to relieve knee, back, and other joint pain. The therapy can improve cellular function and healing. 

4. Dry needling

Dry needling directly impacts painful trigger points in your body. Dr. Beaman inserts a thin needle into a band of tight, dysfunctional muscle tissue that causes pain, tenderness, and movement restrictions. 

By breaking up the fiber bundles, dry needling effectively decreases chronic pain due to muscle tightness and inflammation. 

5. Terahertz technology

Terahertz (THz) technology is an innovative healing mechanism that uses electromagnetic waves to improve healing and repair body cells. THz waves sit between microwaves and infrared waves on the electromagnetic spectrum. The waves penetrate deeply and match the vibration of human cells, encouraging greater circulation. Healthy cells absorb the terahertz waves, and dormant cells reactivate in response to the energy.

THz reduces chronic pain conditions, including osteoporosis, psoriasis, Bell’s palsy, heart disease, and sciatica. Research also suggests that terahertz technology has potential in treating certain types of cancer.

6. Frequency-specific microcurrent therapy (FSM)

Frequency-specific microcurrent therapy treats pain with a low-level electrical current. Dr. Beaman uses different frequencies, depending on the type of pain she’s treating. 

The FSM device delivers an extremely mild electrical current, similar to the wavelength of electrical currents produced naturally by human cells. 

FSM can increase the production of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, located inside injured tissues. ATP serves as a primary source of energy for all cellular activity. By increasing ATP, FSM helps with recovery and pain reduction. 

Pain conditions treated with FSM include arthritis, sports injuries, and fibromyalgia.

If you’re looking for drug-free treatments to help you manage your pain, reach out to Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture today. To schedule a consultation, call our Coon Rapids, Minnesota, office at 651-272-7998, or book an appointment online.