Non-interventional pain management is an alternative to surgery and injections for chronic pain. Treatment typically begins with non-interventional procedures before using more aggressive treatments. The goal of treating pain at Novus Spine & Pain Center’s Pain Clinic in Lakeland is to ease the pain, improve physical function, and relieve the psychological distress pain often causes.

What Is Non-Interventional Pain Management?

There are many pharmacologic and non-pharmacological treatments available to help manage chronic pain. Non-interventional pain management focuses on non-invasive pain treatments and procedures. These pain relief procedures include:

Non-invasive, pharmacological: These pain management techniques are purely pharmacological.
Non-invasive, non-drug: These pain management procedures do not require administering an injection and do not involve oral medications. Physical therapy is an example of a non-invasive, non-drug pain management procedure.

Types of Non-Interventional Pain Management

There are two main types of non-interventional pain management: non-invasive pharmacological and non-invasive non-drug.

While medication can play an essential role in relieving pain, there are effective medication-free, non-interventional pain management techniques.

Non-Invasive, Pharmacological Pain Treatment

Doctors often use pharmacological treatments alone or in combination with other chronic pain treatment options. The medicines include both over-the-counter and prescription medications such as:

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin.
Acetaminophen is in a group of drugs called analgesics (Tylenol).
Doctors often use muscle relaxants to treat neck and back pain and muscle spasms.
Antidepressants and Antiseizure Medications can often help relieve or reduce nerve pain.
Corticosteroids are cortisone-like medicines helpful for reducing swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions.

There have been numerous scientific and news reports about the use and misuse of opioids for treating chronic pain. Although prescriptions for opioids increased in the 1990s and early 2000s, a 2015 study found a lack of evidence of their long-term effectiveness. In the 2016 CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain, the Centers for Disease Control recommended non-opioid therapy as the preferred treatment.

According to the National Safety Council, a person is more likely to die from an accidental opioid overdose than a motor vehicle crash.

Non-Invasive, Non-Drug Treatments

You do not always have to take medicine to treat pain. You might not need pain medication to feel better, whether it is lower back pain or a throbbing headache. Some of the non-invasive, non-drug pain treatment options include:

Acupuncture: Unlike an injection, acupuncture is the insertion of a very fine, sterilized stainless steel needle into the skin at specific points on the body. The procedure helps release endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and stimulates nerve and muscle tissue.
Biofeedback: A technique for learning relaxation and breathing exercises. A biofeedback machine displays heart rate and blood pressure. By monitoring the biofeedback machine, the patient learns how to relax specific muscles to reduce the body’s response to pain.
Cold and Heat: These methods include homemade or over-the-counter cold and hot packs to help reduce pain.
Chiropractic Treatments: A chiropractor uses special hands-on techniques to adjust the body by making minor adjustments to the musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, tendons, and joints).
Deep Breathing/Meditation: These two relaxation techniques can often help ease the pain. Deep breathing and focusing on the breath, ignoring thoughts, and repeating a word or phrase (mantra) cause the body to relax. These techniques can help restore a sense of control over your body and turn down the “fight or flight” response, which can worsen chronic muscle tension and pain.
Diet: A proper diet can help aid the digestive process, reduce the risk of heart disease, manage weight, and improve blood sugar levels. In addition, a well-balanced diet is essential for anyone living with chronic pain.
Exercise: Physical exertion for increasing strength and flexibility can help restore normal motion and help release natural endorphins (brain chemicals). Endorphins can help improve mood and help block pain signals. In addition, physical activity helps interrupt the cycle of pain and reduced mobility found in some chronic conditions, like arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Massage: Gentle therapeutic massage often helps ease tension, discomfort, and pain by introducing a “competing” sensation to override pain signals. Massage is not just an indulgence; it can ease pain by working tension out of muscles and joints, relieving stress and anxiety. Even a gentle, circular rubbing of the feet, hands, or back can help. You can even massage yourself by applying light, even pressure to your hands, arms, neck, or forehead.
Shiatsu (Finger Pressure Therapy): This is the application of pressure from a massage along energy lines in the body. A shiatsu therapist applies pressure with the fingers, thumbs, and elbows to help relieve pain.
Music Therapy: Scientists believe music helps ease pain by making the patient feel good. Studies have found listening to music can help relieve pain. Hearing pleasant music triggers the release of dopamine, which is associated with other rewarding and motivating stimuli, such as food.
Physical and Occupational Therapy: Physical therapy can help relieve pain, while occupational therapy helps patients live with pain, injury, and disability. A physical therapist designs exercises to help preserve or improve strength and mobility. In addition, occupational therapists help patients learn how to perform daily activities to help avoid aggravating their pain.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS): This is the application of a low-voltage electric current through electrode patches on the skin near an area of pain. The current interacts with the sensory nervous system and helps interrupt pain signals to the brain.
Yoga and Tai Chi: Two exercise practices combining breath control, meditation, and gentle movements to stretch and strengthen muscles. Studies have found these exercises can help manage pain resulting from headaches, arthritis, and lingering injuries.
Support Groups: Meeting with others with chronic pain and understanding what you are going through can make the patient feel less alone. A support group can often provide additional skills for coping with pain. Anyone living with chronic pain can develop depression. Meeting with a mental health professional can help a patient learn to control negative thoughts, which can worsen the pain. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

There are a variety of benefits to overcoming chronic pain without medication. Besides not needing to remember to take medicine, the patient avoids any unpleasant side caused by many prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Take Away

Every patient is unique, and individual treatment options depend on several factors, including the type of pain and the cause. If non-interventional treatments are unsuccessful, interventional treatments may be an option. However, there are also cases where a combination of medicine and non-medicine therapies are the best non-interventional pain management programs.

Novus Spine & Pain Center

Dr. Torres established Novus Spine & Pain Center in Lakeland, Florida, with the goal of providing the highest quality pain management care to every patient. Whether pain results from an injury or another condition, Dr. Torres offers many different treatment options.

Novus Spine & Pain Center utilizes a comprehensive approach and cutting-edge therapies to restore normal function and allow patients to regain an active lifestyle while minimizing the need for opiates. As our patient, you are our top priority. Our goal is to help you achieve the best possible quality of life.

Our Mission Statement: To provide the best quality of life to people suffering from pain by providing state-of-the-art treatments, knowledge and skill, compassion, and respect for all.

For your convenience, you may schedule an appointment online, request a call back, or call our office at 863-473-7849.