Is it best to treat chronic pain with pain medication or meditation, exercise & physical therapy or all of the above?

As you may be aware, the long term use of narcotics, like morphine, for chronic pain conditions can almost always lead to addiction and tolerance. Add in drug abuse, alcohol abuse and diversion of narcotics and you have all the ingredients for trouble.

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If you have severe pain you have my sympathies, I know the few times I have had to deal with it, it was not a pleasant experience. My suggestion is to use whatever you find that works. Years ago I used to read about neurotransmitters and it was discovered that the only no addicting pain killer was a chemical that took away all the bodies endorphins, the body apparently reacts to that by producing a lot natural pain killers. I wish I could tell you the name of it.. but I read this many many years ago, what I remember is ever hormone has an opposite or anti-hormone if you will so it would be the opposite of endorphin. On a quicker more practical side the brain generally can only think of pain in one spot at a time. And I had read and have tried to pretty good effect using a clothspin on the earlobe which pinches just enough to pull your consciousness away from the real pain. The first time I used it, it was interesting just to watch my mind jump between the two sources of pain trying to sort out. I believe the first time I had a severe tooth ache. I have used this method three separate occasions now. The last one after I broke my wrist and my wife laughing because I had a clothspin on each ear because I really hurt! Anyway good luck, Hope something here will further your path.

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