There are a number of different treatments used for chronic pain in Sweden. The best results are achieved when several types of treatment are used in conjunction. They can include: medication, physical exercise, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, acupuncture and TENS.

Approximately 20% of the Swedish population suffers from moderate to severe chronic pain. Many have difficulties living with the pain and it costs the state a lot of money. In 2003, the indirect cost was calculated at 87.5 billion Swedish crowns (13 billion U.S. dollars), due to absenteeism. Therefore, treating pain properly can both reduce suffering and result in significant economic gains.


Several measures combined is best

When the SBU (Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care) evaluated pain treatments, the results showed that to achieve the best results, several measures should be used in conjunction. Such a treatment program could include both pain relief treatment coupled with treatment to counteract the pain or make it more bearable to live with.

The large group of measures that that SBU considers to have scientific support and therefore can be used in a treatment program are:
* Different types of medication, depending on the reason for them and the kind of pain.
* Acupuncture.
* TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation).
* Physical exercise or therapy.
* Patient education.
* Behavioral therapy.

Physical exercise provides pain relief

Exercise can constitute walking, bicycling, swimming and using a variety of exercise machines. Professionally tutored physical exercise is something the SBU believes can have a good relieving effect, especially for patients suffering from neck, back and lumbar pain.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy attempts to affect your behavior and other negative thinking patterns. The treatment can increase an individual's capacity to handle the difficulties resulting from the illness and give him/her more control over his/her life. There is also an emotional component to chronic pain that can be affected.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is seen as the best treatment of sensitized chronic pain. Sensitized pain means that the pain inhibition response has been reduced in the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system (which extends out in the body) becomes more sensitive. This can result in pain being felt as soon as the skin is touched, or due to light muscle pressure.

Western acupuncture

The SBU has decided that the scientific evidence for western acupuncture is strong for treatment in a variety of cases:
* Chronic lumbar pain.
* Neck and shoulder pain.
* Tennis elbow.
* Facial pain.
* Whiplash.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is the electrical stimulation applied by electrodes on the skin. There is good support for this treatment on knee pain. The effect for other kinds of pain is variable.

Medication

There are many kinds of medication that can be prescribed on their own or together. NSAIDs are both pain relievers and anti-inflammatory and are often used when inflammations increase the pain. They are fairly commonly used in conjunction with other medication. Medication containing paracetamol (such as Alvedon) are also commonly used.

Other medications that are not commonly seen as pain relieving can also be used. Tricyclic medications, originally used as anti-depressants, are sometimes prescribed for night-time use. They can ease sleep and reduce sensitivity to pain.

There are also many other kinds of medication.

Bath therapy and ginger, avocado and soy extracts

The SBU also points to the fact that some alternative treatments can have an effect. For chronic muscle and joint pain, mud or mineral baths in spa settings can have both an immediate and permanent pain-relieving effect. Ginger extract, avocado/soy bean extract, rosehip powder and hawthorn extract have been shown to be significantly more effective than placebos for those suffering from arthritis.

By: Back Pain Healers

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Back Pain Healers provides explanations of the reasons behind back pain and sleep disorders. We help people to minimize their discomfort by offering high-quality, market-leading products such as TENS Units and EMS Machines