Question about Non-drug pain management?

Question

I'm a nursing student and I have been searching about Non-drug pain management. What nurses can do for non-drug pain therapy. I would like to know detail and example of Hypnosis, Biofeedback, Guided Imagery, breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, and magic glove or blanket. How I can use these intervention. My text book mention little about these. However, I cannot know how I can use these in hospital. Thus, could anyone tell me example of how nurses use these for patients please? Also, which non-drug pain management are used most and which one is most effective?

Answer 1

Also very important is nutrition. Often, if you look at the bloodwork of chronic pain patients, the C-reactive protein and sed rates are high, indicating inflammation. What does the medical community do? Prednisone or NSAIDS. Not the best answer (see Vioxx). However, if you do a quick history of the patient, you will probably find a diet laden in Omega-6 (Saturated and Trans fats, or the inflammatory fats, if you will) with little Omega-3 (Flax and fish oil, among others, or the anti-inflammatory fats) So, teach them to balance their Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio to 1:1, taking plenty of antioxidants, and whammo, 50% of the pain can be reduced with this alone in those types of patients. Also, get rid of the neuro toxins in their diet, aspartame, MSG and the like. The rest, well, look to the nervous system. By allowing the nerve transmission to travel without interference from the brain to the body, the body will often take care of its pain on its own. How? Chiropractic has the answer to nervous system interference.

Answer 2

I think a lot of that will depend on time and financial resources. I have read a lot of positive research on biofeedback but it takes time and resources. As you are likely aware it does however teach the patient to control their automatic responses which can help in many other areas than pain treatment. A lot of these management practices however you need a lot of training for (such as biofeedback and hypnosis).

Answer 3

You didn't mention acupressure, massage, or reflexology, which I think are most important and useful.

These are fairly easy to learn, and might be a useful adjunct to your training.