Non-Drug Treatments for Pain

November 22, 2017, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

After a car accident pain is a common problem. For some people the pain is transient and short lived. For others the pain is longer lasting but still improves with time, and for some it becomes a chronic and lifelong problem. Chronic pain is difficult to manage because it can seemingly ‘feed on itself’.

We know that when someone is in chronic pain their stress and anxiety levels increase, and sleep decreases. We know that those same things can increase the level of pain. Taking strong pain medications and sleeping pills can be a short-term solution but is not a lifelong solution by any means. The side effects of many medications can vary from stomach issues, memory issues, through to addiction issues.

There has been a lot of work in the last few years focussing on the relief people can get from non-drug therapies for chronic pain. Specifically, meditation and hypnosis are being explored for some help with relaxation and anxiety control.

Hypnotherapy is led by a clinician and a real therapy. It helps you to learn how to use your mind and thoughts to help you gain control over your feelings. For many victims of car accidents anxiety can become a terrible problem. They avoid getting into a car at all, or avoid the intersections of the accident, or avoid driving in the similar weather conditions. Hypnotherapy helps people to relax and let go of some of the thoughts that preoccupy their minds. It has been shown to reduce pain and anxiety in people with long term and short-term pain. It can also help to ‘slow the mind’ and increase quality of sleep and general peace of mind.

Meditation is another form of quieting the mind. It can be done anywhere and anytime. People who meditate regularly report lower levels of anxiety, depression and stress. It can take the form of chanting one word over and over while clearing he mind of distractions, to progressive muscle relaxation. Many people who want to try meditation find it helpful to sign up for a few guided classes to learn how to relax effectively.

If you are in pain from an accident, or you find your mind obsessively worrying you may find either of these non-invasive therapies useful. You can ask your doctor for a referral to a therapist that provides hypnotherapy, and there are community and private organizations that focus on meditation.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.