Chronic pain can destroy your energy levels and ability to perform even the simplest of daily tasks. A wide variety of pain management options exist but some of them might not suit your lifestyle, current health or personal preferences. What are some pain management options that don't involve invasive surgery or prescription drugs?

Physical and Massage Therapy

Talk to your doctor about whether gaining strength and relaxing muscles will help alleviate the cause of your pain. If the answer is yes, consider combining physical and massage therapy. A physical therapist is essentially a personal trainer who will develop a range of exercises to help strengthen weak areas that might contribute to your pain problem. The therapist is well trained to design exercises that won't cause any further damage and can continually tailor your schedule based on your progress.

Your physical therapist might also work massage therapy into your sessions or refer you to an outside massage therapy. Frequent massage sessions with a therapist trained to deal with injury can help further release the tension around your joints and muscles that might be causing or adding to your pain.

Acupuncture 

Acupuncture uses a series of carefully-placed needles to target pressure points that can help alleviate pain throughout the body. Patients have turned to acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain conditions including fibromyalgia, arthritis and tennis elbow. Do research to find a reputable local acupuncture technician who will provide a safe, sterile experience that can precisely target the areas causing your pain. Repeat visits may be required to get the full advantage of the practice.

This choice is especially good if you're suffering emotional burdens due to your pain. Acupuncture has shown an ability to lighten depression and anxiety in practitioners, which can keep your mind healthy as you work on improving your physical health.

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold laser therapy, also called low-level laser therapy, is like an advanced form of acupuncture applied by a physical therapist or chiropractor. Low-powered lasers are targeted at problem areas to stimulate the tissue to promote healing. The non-invasive procedure can be done in a simple office visit without any recovery time required. Cold laser therapy has shown positive results in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, joint issues, lower back pain and many other chronic pain conditions. Some insurance companies include cold laser therapy in chiropractic coverage, which makes this an even more attractive option to those watching their treatment costs. For more information, contact Pro-Active Chiropractic or a similar organization.