Conditions that cause chronic pain can have a significant impact on an individual’s daily life. Work duties may become more difficult or impossible to perform. Recreational activities may become limited. Even social interactions can become problematical. If you have a painful condition, you have a number of options to help you regain your normal life. Here are 3 steps to dealing with pain, so you can feel more like your usual self.

For individuals who are concerned about the uses of strong medications to manage pain, the ancient Asian healing method of acupuncture can offer a useful option. Acupuncture uses very fine needles, inserted at specific nerve crossroads in the human body, to block pain and improve function. Practitioners of the method must go through intensive training in the technique.

The needles do not cause pain and have no side effects. The conventional medical community recognizes the value of this alternative treatment and recommends it for a variety of painful conditions, including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia and other problems.

In some cases, chronic pain involves the nerves the carry messages from the affected part of the body to the brain. For example, back injuries that involve herniated discs can be an ongoing problem that can restrict activities and cause constant discomfort. Neurosurgery through someone like Southwest Florida Neurosurgical & Rehab Associatescan help to resolve the pain of herniated disc problems, so patients can enjoy more flexible, comfortable movement. Neurological treatment can be an effective method of dealing with painful conditions that do not respond fully to other methods.

Meditation techniques are becoming recognized as an important alternative method of dealing with pain. The process of meditation involves calming the mind and body, which allows natural pain-relieving chemicals to be released. This technique of “mindfulness” has been used in Asian cultures for thousands of years.

The principles behind the practice are in training the mind to go where you want it to go, rather than wandering back and forth with fearful thoughts that only increase tension and pain. This method helps to relax muscles, improve neuro-chemical transfer and lower the intensity of pain messages to the brain.

New methods of dealing with pain are continuously being developed to help individuals’ maintain their normal lifestyles. Although dealing with chronic pain can be a discouraging experience, patients have more options for treatment than ever before. If you explore these 3 steps for dealing with pain, you will find you have greater control over how you feel and will be able to return to your regular activities.