4 alternative ways to get help for chronic pain

It would be great to give you the perfect mix of tips to guarantee that you won't ever face chronic pain, but it's not possible. There is just too wide a range of causes, from disease to injury to old-fashioned wear and tear.While we have to acknowledge that pain becomes more prevalent with age, there are effective ways to minimize it, and in some cases, erase it.

• It doesn't matter what the group does — tear apart the latest best-seller or the latest political leader (figuratively, of course) — as long as you're interacting with other people.
• Studies find that older people who keep busy and engaged, including maintaining a strong social network, have significantly less chronic pain than those without.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy teaches you to avoid negative thinking and self-defeating behaviour (i.e., I hurt too much to take a walk), and provides positive reinforcement for achieving your goals (i.e., I'm taking that walk!).
• It also teaches you coping skills for better managing pain. You should see results in just six to 15 sessions. Ask your doctor to recommend someone experienced in working with pain patients.

• The evidence behind the use of chiropractic care for certain painful conditions such as back and neck pain is irrefutable.
• Not only do numerous studies show it is effective but also it is more cost-effective than physical therapy or traditional doctor visits and pain medication — an important consideration if you're living on a fixed income.

• This ancient healing practice in which very thin needles, pressure, or electricity are used to stimulate certain parts of your body, called meridians, has entered the mainstream when it comes to pain management.
• Acupuncture stimulates the release of feel-good endorphins into your spinal fluid, where they serve as a kind of buffer to prevent pain signals from reaching your brain.
• Acupuncture has been used successfully with few, if any, side effects to treat back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and generalized pain.
• One German study even found that it was more effective than massage for neck pain.
• One caveat: You may need repeat treatments if your pain is chronic.