from Mayo Clinic Proceedings
For many people who suffer from
chronic pain, medications may not bring
complete relief or may bring unwanted
side effects. As a result, people with
chronic pain turn to nondrug remedies.
But which ones appear most effective?
A review of clinical trials published in the
journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings makes
suggestions. The review focused on five
painful conditions—back pain,
osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia
and severe headaches, including
migraines. The following approaches
showed promise of safety and
effectiveness in treating pain.
Acupuncture and yoga for back pain,
acupuncture and tai chi for osteoarthritis
of the knee, massage therapy for shortterm
relief from neck pain, and
relaxation techniques for severe
headaches.