Effective Pain Management Alternatives to Codeine
Even though it's only been little more than a month since the ""off the shelf"" codeine ban went into effect in Australia, the sales of products like Nurofen and Panadol have already skyrocketed as a result. The ban is due, in large part, to the sensitive nature of codeine and the effort…
Even though it's only been little more than a month since the ""off the shelf"" codeine ban went into effect in Australia, the sales of products like Nurofen and Panadol have already skyrocketed as a result. The ban is due, in large part, to the sensitive nature of codeine and the effort instituted to help curb potentially deadly levels of abuse around the world.
Although Codeine is used to treat mild to moderate pain, the ban serves as an effort to curb codeine-related deaths caused by overuse, which claims the lives of 150 Australians every yearat a rate that has doubled between 2000 and 2009 alone.
But the good news is that if you are suffering legitimate pain, there are a host of different ways that you can find treatment without going to the trouble of a doctor's prescription for codeine. There are also other alternative pain medication strategies that are worth exploring.
Supplements and Vitamins
If you're looking for a natural alternative way to relieve pain, look no further than the plethora of supplements and vitamins that are available for you to choose from depending on your needs. There is an overwhelming scientific evidence to support the fact that both dietary supplements and vitamins can assist patients with certain types of pain.
If you're experiencing joint pain and swelling, for example, fish oil is often used to treat exactly that. If you've got severe pain from a condition like osteoarthritis, glucosamine can help.
Capsaicin, which is derived from chilli peppers, can be used in the form of creams and sprays to help improve diabetic nerve pain, and arthritis. Likewise, supplements like ginko biloba have long been used to improve blood circulation which can assist in leg pain and help relieve symptoms of PMS.
The Natural Healing of Acupuncture
Another one of the best alternative pain management strategies to codeine, thankfully, doesn't actually involve any medicine at all — at least in the traditional, oral sense. Acupuncture is a technique that has been around for at least 2000 years and is built upon the foundation of the ancient Chinese art of healing.
During an acupuncture session, a medical professional will insert hair-thin needles into various strategic locations on the body, thus relieving pain and tension in these areas and regulating the normal movements within the body's meridian system. Not only does the World Health Organization list a number of different conditions for which acupuncture is highly beneficial, numerous studies have also confirmed its overall level of effectiveness as well.
Just a few of the conditions that acupuncture can be incredibly helpful with include (but are not limited to) fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and many other common injuries that people might sustain while playing sports.
F. Michael Ferrante, the director of the pain management centre at UCLA in Los Angeles, has confirmed that there is more than enough scientific evidence to support the use of acupuncture for pain relief and management around the world.
Stress Reduction Techniques
Many people also turn to a wide range of different stress reduction techniques in an effort to better help with general pain management. Yoga, for example, is something that has been around for thousands of years. It essentially combines the best of both physical exercise and self-healing into a series of workouts that can help with chronic pain in your neck, back, and even pain associated with arthritis.
A wide range of different studies have also supported the use of hypnosis for pain management, specifically in terms of issues like repetitive strain injuries, back pain, and pain that commonly arises as a result of conditions like cancer.
There is also some evidence to support the use of practices like meditation to help manage pain, particularly due to the mindfulness benefits that it brings with it. MRIs have been conducted in the past that show that the brain of a person who is actively meditating has a decrease in pain reception. This means the more you relax and focus on the moment, the more you actually change the way your body begins to feel and process pain to begin with.
The Major Benefits of Massages
Finally, one of the best ways to relieve the pain associated with a wide range of different conditions is also, thankfully, one of the most enjoyable. Techniques like massages are also often used to activate the body's self-healing processes in both Australia and all over the world.
During a massage, a professional will apply pressure to strategic points around your body, both in an effort to relieve stress and to help you manage the pain you might be feeling due to a host of different reasons. This level of pressing, rubbing, and manipulating muscles not only helps strengthen and improve the quality of the body's soft tissues, but it can also help ease pain associated with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis as well.
Chemsave: Your Partner in Pain Management
At Chemsave, we proudly see ourselves as more than just another pharmaceutical retailer — we strive to be the partner in your own health, wellness, and success. We stock a wide array of different products that can act as alternative pain management to codeine, with more being added all the time. We also specialise in vitamins, beauty, personal, and many other products for your health and wellness.
If you'd like to find out more information about viable alternative pain management strategies to codeine, or if you have any other questions that you'd like to see answered, get in touch with Chemsave today.
Sources:
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2018/02/28/codeine-ban-price-nurofen-panadol/
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/alternative-treatments
https://www.webmd.com/diet/omega-3s-in-fish-oil-and-supplements-whats-your-best-strategy
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/supplement-guide-glucosamine
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/supplement-guide-ginkgo-biloba
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/alternative-treatments
https://mrsmindfulness.com/mindfulness-meditation-for-pain-relief-in-simple-5-steps/
https://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/default.htm
https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/features/alternative-treatments
