End of Life Concerns Pain & Symptom Control Trends in Chronic Pain Management By Chris Raymond twitter Chris Raymond is an expert on funerals, grief, and end-of-life issues, as well as the former editor of the world’s most widely read magazine for funeral directors. Learn about our editorial process Chris Raymond Fact checked by Fact checked by Ashley Hall on December 15, 2020 linkedin Ashley Hall is a writer and fact checker who has been published in multiple medical journals in the field of surgery. Learn about our editorial process Ashley Hall on December 15, 2020 Print According to the American Chronic Pain Association, a simple definition of chronic pain is "pain that continues when it should not." Without knowing or being able to treat the underlying cause, health-care professionals must turn to other methods of treating this pain in order to provide some level of relief to their patients. In addition to many well-known, established treatments, such as non-narcotic drugs (acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen, for example) and narcotic medications (such as morphine and methadone), several alternative methods are being used to treat chronic pain, with varying degrees of success. vgajic / Getty Images TENS Treatment One such treatment uses a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device, which delivers a small electrical current to the skin surrounding the painful area(s). While considered safe overall, the effectiveness of TENS in treating chronic pain is still under debate, but it has helped some patients. A product called Quell is an electrode strip that, like a TENS unit, sends electrical signals that "stimulate dense nerve clusters triggering endogenous pain relief mechanisms in the body." Medical Marijuana While not exactly a new technique, the use of marijuana for medical purposes such as pain relief remains in the spotlight as bills to legalize its use come before state legislatures off and on. Presently, over half of the states in the U.S. allow the use of medical marijuana, although it remains banned on the federal level. The long-term benefits of marijuana on chronic pain remain is unknown due to the lack of scientific research. Spinal Cord Stimulation Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) involves implanting a small device beneath the skin that creates small electrical impulses near the base of the spine. Sometimes called a "pain pacemaker," SCS devices can now work via remote control, which allows the patient to adjust the level of the electrical signals in response to increasing or decreasing pain. Like the TENS device noted earlier, however, the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation is still under study and implantation of these expensive devices requires extensive testing of individuals with specific types of pain to maximize the potential of success. Pain Pump Not unlike an SCS device, a "pain pump" or "drug pump" is a device implanted beneath the skin but this unit actually delivers medication directly to the fluid surrounding the spinal cord. Use of a pain pump is not widespread because of the expense involved, but for certain patients, these devices have proven effective because the amount of medication needed is lower, which can reduce the negative side effects experienced with other drug-delivery techniques. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Unconventional treatments for chronic pain have grown significantly in the past two decades due to the growing acceptance of non-conventional medical methods, such as herbal supplements, yoga, meditation, etc. These various processes are collectively referred to as CAM, or complementary and alternative medicine. Briefly, a complementary technique will be used along with other pain-control treatments, while an alternative method is used in lieu of another type of treatment. The list of CAM treatment types is long but includes massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnosis, magnetic therapy, tai chi, and herbal or dietary supplements, to name a few. While some of these processes and products might lack significant scientific research to prove their effectiveness, it is important to remember two things. First, some of the treatments now used in conventional medicine, such as chiropractic care and herbal supplements, existed outside of mainstream medicine for a long time. More importantly, many people suffering from chronic pain have found some degree of relief. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Chronic Pain Association. Resource Guide to Chronic Pain Management. 2020. Sdrulla AD, Guan Y, Raja SN. Spinal Cord Stimulation: Clinical Efficacy and Potential Mechanisms. Pain Pract. 2018;18(8):1048-1067. doi:10.1111/papr.12692