More and more Americans are looking for safe, effective alternatives to opioid pain relievers and muscle relaxants. Fortunately, several noninvasive treatments have been researched and approved for pain management. Of course, whenever possible, it’s best to get to the root of the problem and help the patient heal, rather than only treating symptoms. Here are five natural pain management treatments, including some that can lead to permanent relief.

1. K-Laser Therapy

Lasers have brought many innovations to medicine. Cold lasers, so-called because they don’t cut, are an effective, non-invasive tool for treating pain. Cold lasers, also called K-lasers, use red and near-infrared light to stimulate cellular processes necessary for healing. To understand why k-laser therapy works, you’ll need a crash course in the body’s healing process.

When an injury occurs, our body begins healing with the first stage: inflammation. That may sound like a dirty word, but a certain amount of inflammation is necessary for healing. When all goes as it should, the body sends blood flow filled with specialized cells to the area. The process then moves from the inflammation phase to the proliferation (tissue building) and remodeling (tissue strengthening) phases. At the end of the healing process, inflammation should return to pre-injury levels. Sometimes the body’s healing process stalls, and instead of building strong tissue, it continues to inflame the area. In these cases, pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion become chronic problems.

K-laser therapy stimulates the body to finish the healing process. That’s why it’s one of the treatments on this list that can result in permanent relief. K-laser therapy is non-invasive, pain-free, and quick. Sessions usually take less than ten minutes. It has been used for over thirty years for various painful conditions, including strains, sprains, repetitive use injuries, and post-surgical recovery.

2. Massage Therapy

Massage is often viewed as a luxury rather than a necessary part of health care. Multiple studies have confirmed that massage is an effective pain reliever, stress reducer, and anti-depressant. At our clinic, it’s an important part of treatment for stubborn conditions like sciatica. It works wonders on pain worsened by tense muscles or trigger points, and it encourages healing by stimulating circulation.

All massages are not created equal. Your pain management provider can recommend the best type for you. Many people with chronic back or neck pain benefit from a trigger point massage that focuses on working out knots and adhesions. Patients with sports-related injuries can receive a massage designed for their condition.

Tense muscles can pull vertebrae out of alignment and make it difficult for a chiropractic adjustment to realign them. For this reason, massage is a great partner treatment with a spinal adjustment. Poor posture can cause scar tissue and adhesions in the upper back and neck. Even after posture improves and spinal adjustment has mitigated the damage, these tender spots remain. Massage is the last piece in the puzzle for many patients that resolves pain that hasn’t been fully relieved by other treatments.


3. Chiropractic Adjustment

The vertebrae in the spine sometimes become subluxated (misaligned) from daily wear and tear, bad posture, or trauma. When this happens, nerves that pass through the vertebrae can be impacted, causing numbness, tingling, pain, and systematic problems like balance issues or digestive upset. Chiropractors are trained in dozens of spinal adjustment methods and can address the needs of patients of all ages and stages.

Adults with chronic back or neck pain often find relief with a spinal adjustment. Other joints like knees can also be adjusted. Realigning the vertebrae has many benefits for both the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Regular adjustments have been linked with better sleep, less stress, less pain, and better immune function. If a disc or joint in the spine is the cause of your pain, manual spinal adjustment and spinal decompression therapy may lead to long-term relief.

Murfreesboro Stanlick Chiropractic

4. Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression therapy is a form of motorized traction that creates negative pressure between the vertebrae. It’s FDA-approved as a safe and effective treatment for low back pain. Several studies have verified its long-term effectiveness in individuals struggling with chronic back pain.

During spinal decompression therapy, the patient is comfortably secured to a special table that slowly pulls apart, creating a gentle stretch of the spine. Unlike manual traction, spinal decompression uses a computer to achieve precise, personalized movements. It is especially effective for herniated and bulging discs, and facet syndrome. Patients who’ve experienced a failed back surgery are candidates for spinal decompression as long as their surgery didn’t involve a fusion or metal implants.

The negative pressure created by decompression therapy sucks bulging discs and leaking disc fluid back into place and brings healing blood flow to the discs and joints. Most patients receive between 20 and 24 sessions for several weeks. After completing a treatment plan, about 80% of patients experience long-term relief.


5. Custom Orthotics

Foot pain may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the phrase “chronic pain” unless you suffer from it yourself. Foot pain is common and has many causes. Sometimes a different style or size of shoe fixes the problem. People with flat feet or very high arches may need more specialized assistance. Many patients suffering from knee, hip, or low back pain have a foot problem that is causing their pain. Our patients are often surprised when their custom orthotics cure their back pain.

Each of your feet has three arches that work together to balance your weight and stabilize your movements. Many people with flat feet overpronate when they walk; this means more pressure is put on the big toe and second toe. People with high arches often underpronate, meaning too much pressure is put on the outside of the foot. Both of these gaits destabilize the foot and the rest of your musculoskeletal system.

Custom orthotics can fix your gait and prevent extra strain on the knees, hips, and back. They can also treat painful conditions like plantar fasciitis.

Natural Pain Management in Tennessee

At Stanlick Chiropractic, we believe in working with your body’s natural healing processes to relieve pain. We work with patients who can achieve complete healing and patients who need long-term symptom management. Schedule a consultation today to find out how we can help you experience life with less pain.