Chronic Pain

Antidepressants are prescribed more often for chronic pain than for mental health conditions. A new study evaluates how well they work.

Patient advocate Arielle Dance, PhD, shares her experience getting back into tap shoes after two pulmonary embolisms and numerous surgeries for endometriosis.

Achy backs, headaches, joint pain: These celebrities are among the 50 million Americans who live with some form of chronic pain. Learn more about Serena Williams, Ted Danson, Patrick Stewart, and Travis Barker.

Adults with cerebral palsy and spina bifida are prescribed more opioids than people without these neurodevelopmental disorders, a new study suggests.

Change the way you think about and treat pain can lead to relief. Incorporating evidence-based, drug-free approaches may help you heal.

Inexpensive yet effective non-drug pain relievers such as acupuncture, pain processing therapy, or biofeedback aren't easy to find. Get tips for locating and negotiating to make these more accessible.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a popular drug-free intervention associated with a variety of health and wellness benefits, including helping people cope with chronic pain.

Physical therapists use a range of treatment techniques to help restore function and mobility, reduce pain, and improve quality of life. Learn about physical therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a drug-free way to treat back pain, knee pain, and other joint pain, plus headaches and other persistent aches and pains.

Chiropractors can provide relief for people with chronic headaches, chronic back pain, chronic neck pain, and sciatica. Learn about chiropractic therapy.

Biofeedback gives patients insights into physiological reactions caused by stress and pain — and how to reverse those reactions for symptom relief.

Acupuncture is a drug-free approach to treating headaches, joint pain, back pain, and other chronic pain. Learn about how it works, how to try it, and more.

Qigong and tai chi involve meditation, controlled breathing, and movement to improve a person’s mental and physical health. These drug-free approaches have been shown to reduce chronic pain.

Eight weeks of mindfulness training reduced opioid craving and misuse, pain, and depression for people with chronic pain in a new clinical trial.

Pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) is a new, drug-free approach to treating back pain and chronic pain. Learn how it works, how to try it, and more.

Antidepressants are prescribed to treat chronic issues such as back pain, osteoarthritis, and sciatica, but research suggests the drugs may not be effective. Learn more.

A holistic doctor can help you address joint pain, headaches, and other types of chronic pain. Learn where to find a doctor, and how an integrated care approach helps.

Chronic pain can be both a cause and a consequence of sleep deficiency. These at-home tips can help you break the sleeplessness and chronic pain cycle.

For managing chronic pain, opioid drugs may not be the answer. Here are ways to find relief without relying on a prescription.