What do you do if you can't take pain meds?
My mother, a 71 year old, is having knee replacement surgery and cannot take pain meds. Pain meds make her extremely ill. We need some alternative pain relief. Can you give us some ideas for alternative pain relief?
There is hope for people who cannot tolerate pain medications. One process involves doing relaxation exercises to turn down the stress response. These can take the form of guided breathing, meditation, guided imagery, self hypnosis, massage therapy, etc. Why can this be effective? One reason might be that pain evokes the stress response which in turn releases chemicals that can stimulate the pain receptors. Over time this reaction can leave some individuals increasingly sensitized to pain.
Relaxation exercises allow one to remodulate the stress response, reduce anxiety and stop the release of harmful chemicals. Relaxation also reduces stiffness and increases mobility and therefore the supply of healthful chemicals to the injured region. Massage therapy , for instance, can be used to reduce tension, soothe the nervous system and increase circulation.Other possibiities include applying warm or cold compresses, ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS), acupuncture and water therapy.
How effective these options are depend on the individual. Studies show, for instance, that 15-20% of the population with moderate to severe pain can effectively eliminate pain through self-hypnosis. Some individuals fare very well on these techniques while others do not. It's a very difficult situation but there are options - good luck with your mother!
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