PAIN RELIEF

Pain is your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. Many times people experiencing pain take medications for temporary relief but the pain still persists after the medication wears off. In addition, these medications tend to have unwanted side effects if taken frequently, such as liver damage and stomach ulcers. They can also cause your intestinal wall to become more permeable which can lead to further complications and more systemic pain. Although pain can be difficult to deal with, there are a number of ways it can be managed. At Ethos Integrative Medicine, we provide the following services to stop pain from taking over your life:

1. Natural Supplements – Our clinic carries a variety of natural supplements that can aid in pain relief without producing side effects such as liver damage and stomach ulcers.
2. Physical Manipulation – Pain can often be caused by the displacement of bones in the body. A physical adjustment by a trained professional can help relieve some of this pain.
3. Acupuncture – Studies done by the National Institute of Health have shown to help in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions such as neck and back pain without the side effects of medication.
4. Trigger Point Therapy – Pain can also be caused by extremely tight muscles that result in “knots,” or trigger points, in our bodies. The most common places that people experience these trigger points is in their upper back and shoulder area which result in neck and back pain. Trigger Point Therapy works to alleviate pain quickly and effectively by injecting a small amount of solution to the problem area, which ultimately produces a long lasting relief in pain.
5. Prolotherapy and PRP therapy – These therapies have been shown to provide long lasting benefits in patients suffering from sprained ankles, knee and shoulder pain, partially torn ACLs, among other joint issues. The goal of these therapies is to provide localized inflammation and increased blood flow to a given area so that the tissue can stimulate itself to repair itself faster and more efficiently. Prolotherapy and PRP therapy can be great to prevent and recover from sports injuries and are also an alternative to some joint surgeries. 
6. Rest and Activity – As you may already know, adequate rest and sleep promote healing and will allow your body to recover from the day’s activities. However, prolonged inactivity can cause pain to linger as well. Make sure to move around and stretch your back with targeted stretching at home, yoga, tai chi or another gentle exercise of your choice.
7. Relaxation Techniques – Regardless of what causes pain, we experience stress in our everyday lives which will only contribute to the pain you are experiencing. Try relieving some of that stress by journaling, meditating, talking to a counselor or just doing something you love to do.
8. Ice and Heat Therapy – When you are experiencing an acute injury, apply a cold pack to reduce swelling and numb the affected nerves to provide relief. As the process progresses, you’ll want to switch to a heat pack or use alternating hot and cold applications to promote circulation and help improvement movement on the affected area. 
9. Epsom Salt Bath – A hot Epsom salt bath has been shown to help relax tight and painful muscles and to prevent post-workout soreness. Try soaking in an Epsom salt bath after your next workout.
10. Massage – The skills of an experienced massage therapist are far to under-appreciated and have shown great benefit in relaxing tight, painful muscles allowing them to become more mobile.