Pill-Free Pain Relief

March 23, 2011

Chronic pain sufferers may eventually be able to put away the ibuprofen. Just like the song, a new University of Florida study suggests some “good vibrations” take away the pain. UF researchers produced pain by applying heat to the arms of study participants. They followed that pain with stimulating vibrations to block the heat related pain sensations. Researchers say the vibrations reduced the pain sensations in people by 44%. Experts consider this potential new treatment for pain similar to traditional touch therapies already in use.

Dr. Roland Staud/UF pain researcher: “Some forms of massage are very strongly touch related and not painful and they may provide analgesic relief to individuals in pain.”

The study marks the first time a non-painful stimulus was shown to actually provide a pain relieving effect for fibromyalgia patients. Researchers say those who suffer from conditions like fibromyalgia could some day benefit from this kind of treatment, and it could provide an alternative for those who seek treatment from chronic pain.

Dr. Roland Staud/UF pain researcher: “It is not associated with great cost and great risk to the individual as well as the person who provides these treatments.”

Experts say more than 75 million people suffer from chronic pain the United States.