Treatment Therapies

Specialists in treating pain use several different approaches to therapy. They are:.

* Drugs: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen; other classes of drugs that interfere with pain signals to the brain, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants; and narcotic painkillers such as morphine; some medications are infused directly into the spine.

* Nerve stimulation: transcutaneal electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a procedure that prevents pain messages from getting through to the nerves; deep brain stimulation.

* Neurosurgery: severing nerves to stop the pain messages; applying radio frequency or freezing nerves.

* Rehabilitation: physical therapy, occupational therapy, heat and cold treatments.

* Psychological: psychotherapy, hypnosis, biofeedback and relaxation training; behavioral approaches.

* Complementary or alternative medicine: acupuncture, herbal therapies, massage, yoga and meditation.