| Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, ME | | | | amount of time the treatment was used, and the |
| CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue | | | | results immediately after the treatment, thirty |
| syndrome), RSD (reflexive sympathetic | | | | minutes after the treatment, and again in perhaps |
| dystrophy) and others affect the lives of over | | | | an hour or two after the treatment. |
| seven million people in the United States alone. | | | | 4. Give each treatment option sufficient time to |
| With statistics like this, it's little wonder that so | | | | see if it works for you. Some conservative |
| much money, time, and energy are spent on | | | | treatments will either work or they won't, and |
| seeking out the most effective pain relief | | | | you will know fairly soon after the first treatment |
| treatments. | | | | experience whether it works for you. But others |
| Many sufferers will eventually try prescription pain | | | | require some time before results can be |
| medication. For those patients, a trial-and-error | | | | expected. Give each treatment option at least |
| process may very well lead to the identification of | | | | two to three weeks of consistent appropriate use |
| an effective prescription drug that works to | | | | before deciding that it is not working for you. |
| reduce or eliminate the patient's pain and improve | | | | 5. Always, always, ALWAYS check with your |
| her quality of life. But for many, that process can | | | | doctor before starting any new treatment option, |
| take a long time as certain drugs create | | | | whether it's conservative or not. Even the most |
| unwelcome side effects, or physicians work to | | | | innocuous-seeming "natural" supplements can |
| achieve the appropriate dosage. | | | | interact negatively with other substances. Make |
| Additionally, many chronic pain patients choose not | | | | sure your doctor knows everything that you are |
| to take prescription pain medications for various | | | | trying to relieve your pain. |
| reasons. Some of those reasons may be spiritual | | | | 6. Go into each treatment experience with an |
| in nature, while others are rooted in fear of | | | | open mind. Some treatments, such as |
| addiction (which, interestingly, is not as big a risk | | | | acupuncture, might seem a little "new age" to |
| as some media outlets have led the general public | | | | some people. Yet, acupuncture has shown |
| to believe). | | | | promising results in many pain-relief studies, |
| Whatever the reason, chronic pain patients will | | | | especially for fibromyalgia sufferers. Try not to |
| want to continue to have a selection of | | | | make conclusions before you give each treatment |
| conservative treatment options in their pain relief | | | | option a try. The one you dismiss out of hand |
| "arsenals." However, even with the most | | | | might just be the most effective treatment |
| effective treatments, patients can improve their | | | | available for you. |
| chances of achieving pain relief by following a few | | | | 7. Don't give up. It can take a long time before |
| simple guidelines. | | | | you find the right combination of treatments for |
| | | | your particular pain condition. If you give one |
| 1. Manage your expectations. Even the most | | | | conservative treatment an honest try, but it does |
| effective treatments will usually not work as well, | | | | nothing to relieve your pain, do not give up on |
| as quickly, or as consistently as prescription pain | | | | treatment altogether. Simply move on to the |
| medications. Focus on achieving pain management, | | | | next treatment option on your list. Remember: |
| rather than total elimination of pain. | | | | your mental attitude can go a long way towards |
| 2. Understand the treatment in the context of | | | | improving the results that you get with any |
| your entire pain management program. You may | | | | treatment option. |
| want to experiment with different combinations | | | | Keep trying new things, allowing sufficient time for |
| of certain treatments. For instance, analgesic rubs | | | | each treatment option to work before moving to |
| work very well in some chronic pain cases, | | | | the next, and eventually you will find the most |
| particularly fibromyalgia. They can work even | | | | effective treatment for your condition. |
| more effectively, however, when coupled with | | | | Remember that every body is different, in terms |
| massage therapy and the application of moist | | | | of physiology, chemistry, and subjective |
| heat. | | | | experience. What works for others may not |
| 3. Take notes of your treatment experience. At a | | | | work for you -- but by the same token, |
| minimum, it's a good idea to keep track of the | | | | treatments that others dismiss may just do the |
| time and date of each treatment, the dosage or | | | | job for your pain! |