Chronic pain, which is often defined as pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks, affects about one in three adults in the US. For many women, chronic pain is a part of normal, everyday life - especially migraines, facial, pelvic and lower back pain. To help manage prolonged pain, doctors have resorted to prescribing opioids, sometimes in very high doses. However, there are a number of potential alternative therapies that can help treat chronic pain, such as meditation, acupuncture, and physical therapy.
Earlier this month, a study was published evaluating whether alternative therapies are effective in reducing pain. According to the study, meditation, hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy were found most useful. A recent NPR article about this study featured the special case of one woman who used meditation ease her pain, which resulted in reducing the opioid dose she needed by 75%. Learn more about this inspiring story and the study here.