Some nondrug therapies are helpful in
relieving pain. The alternative therapies
described below may be used alone or in
combination with traditional pain medication. If you are interested, it is important to discuss these with your physician to determine which might be appropriate for you.
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Applying a heating pad or cold cloth to specific muscle areas can provide relief from pain. Heat can relax the muscles while cold refreshes the area.
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Deep muscle relaxation works by allowing the amputee to release tension immediately. Learning relaxation skills will take time, however.
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Therapeutic touch concentrates on the
body’s energy field. Some believe that massaging the energy field that surrounds the
body can correct imbalances that lead to pain
or discomfort.
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Distraction therapy is used to turn a person’s attention away from a painful activity
to make him or her more comfortable.
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Massage therapy can work by massaging the external, outer mechanisms of pain to reach the root cause.
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Music therapy uses music to restore, maintain, and improve physical health and well-being.
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Acupuncture is the Chinese practice of
puncturing the body at specifi c points with
very fine needles to cure disease or relieve pain.
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Deep breathing helps with the ability to cope, to control stress, and to relax the patient.
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Hypnotherapy involves relaxation and concentration.
During hypnosis, the patient focuses on things he or she
wants to experience instead of pain.
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Biofeedback uses special machines to learn how to
relax specifi c muscles in the body to reduce tension.
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Guided imagery focuses and directs the imagination. It teaches people to use their imagination to cope with or
distract themselves from the pain.
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Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) provides relief of pain by applying electrical stimulation to the skin.
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Alternative Pain Management Therapies
