People with chronic pain tend to be broad minded when it comes to approaches to managing pain. Nearly everyone agreed that different approaches work for different people.
Complementary approaches are widely discussed among patients and in support groups. For every therapy that was mentioned (homeopathy, Aromatherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, reflexology, acupuncture, massage, herbal medicines, spiritual healing, reiki) there were examples of people who said they had benefited enormously and others who said it was no use for them.
People stressed the importance of getting as much information as possible about complementary approaches, from the GP, the Internet, and support groups and recommended choosing a therapist who was registered and personally recommended.
Approaches such as massage and aromatherapy were sometimes valued because they made people feel better and thus more able to deal with the pain. Others said that massage helped them to relax and avoid muscular spasms, but that they needed a therapist they could trust not to hurt them.
People who are in pain often feel very protective of their bodies and may not be able to bear the thought of deep massage, manipulations, or having their feet or hands touched.
Dietary approaches and supplements were widely used. Those who knew that their diets were inadequate, or affected by problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, felt that vitamin and mineral supplements were a wise precaution.
So what works for one person might not work for another but with the help of complementary therapies, diet change and low impact exercise such as swimming, walking, yoga and cycling can help the patient to get control of there lives again š
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