patient report on cam therapies and pain

Fifty-two percent reported current use of CAM for relief of chronic pain. Of the patients that used CAM, 54% agreed that nontraditional remedies helped their pain and 14% indicated that their individual alternative remedy entirely relieved their pain. Vitamin and mineral supplements were the most frequently used CAM modalities.

Full Answer

Do CAM therapies work for chronic pain?

In spite of the widespread use of CAM therapies for chronic pain, scientific evidence on whether the therapies help the conditions for which they are used is, for the most part, limited.

How many CAM therapies are there?

The national studies conducted by Eisenberg included 16 different CAM therapies. We would expect higher rates in our sample if we had included all potential therapies, suggesting patients in our sample may have higher utilization rates if we had used a more comprehensive list.

Do Cam outcomes measurements capture the full impact of therapies?

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that standard measures used to assess the outcomes of CAM treatments fail to capture the full range of outcomes that are important to patients. In order to capture the full impact of CAM therapies, future trials should include a broader range of outcomes measures.

Are the CAM treatments below arranged by condition and significance?

The CAM treatments below are arranged by condition and relative significance of side effects. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list; many treatments have suggested uses in addition to what is listed below.

What are the three main therapies of CAM?

The Safety of CAM. Some CAM therapies have undergone careful evaluation and have been found to be generally safe and effective. These include acupuncture, yoga, and meditation to name a few.

What are the 5 categories of CAM therapies?

What are the different types of CAM?Acupuncture.Ayurveda.Homeopathy.Naturopathy.Chinese or Oriental medicine.

Are there any risks to using CAM treatments?

Adverse reactions to CAM practices can be classified as risks of commission (which includes removal of medical therapy) and risks of omission (which includes failure to refer when appropriate).

What are four categories of CAM therapies?

The NCCAM divides CAM into four major domains—Mind-Body Medicine, Manipulative and Body-Based Practices, Energy Medicine, and Biologically-Based Practices.

What are the disadvantages of alternative medicine?

Disadvantages of Alternative Medicine for Back PainMinimal scientific research. When it comes to scientific proof, evidence is still limited. ... Longer term treatment. Traditional medical procedures can be quick and easy. ... Not useful in emergency cases. ... No Regulation.

How would you describe cam and the typical person who uses CAM?

The evidence suggests that people who use CAM tend to be female, of middle age and have more education. In terms of their health, CAM users tend to have more than one medical condition, but might not be more likely than non-users to have specific conditions such as cancer or to rate their own general health as poor.

What is the biggest problem with complementary and alternative medicine?

Systematic reviews have found that many clinical trials testing complementary or alternative medicine have major flaws, such as insufficient statistical power, poor controls, inconsistency of treatment or product, and lack of comparisons with other treatments, with placebo, or with both.

Does alternative medicine have side effects?

Some examples of complementary medicines that can cause side effects include: Echinacea – various side effects have been reported, including abdominal pain, swelling, shortness of breath, nausea, itchy skin, rash, redness of the skin and hives. Feverfew – can cause nausea, digestive problems and bloating.

What are the risks of complementary therapies?

Alternative and complementary therapy can pose dangers Some concerns include: Delaying surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other traditional treatment by using an alternative therapy can allow the cancer to grow and spread to other parts of the body.

What is CAM therapy used for?

Among the most widely used CAM therapies are manipulative therapies (such as chiropractic and massage therapy) for back pain, yoga and other forms of exercise, and acupuncture. Dietary supplements, such as vitamins and herbal medicines, are also fairly common.

What types of CAM therapies might help the patient to feel less tired?

According to the survey, the 10 most commonly used CAM therapies were:Prayer for own health.Prayer by others for the respondent's health.Participation in prayer group for own health.Natural products (such as herbs, other botanicals, and enzymes)Deep breathing exercises.Meditation.Chiropractic care.Yoga.More items...•

What are the benefits of complementary therapy?

Why people use complementary or alternative therapiesUsing therapies to help you feel better. ... Reducing symptoms or side effects. ... Feeling more in control. ... Natural and healing therapies. ... Comfort from touch, talk and time. ... Staying positive. ... Boosting your immune system. ... Looking for a cure.

What is CAM therapy?

CAM therapies for osteoarthritis pain, including prolotherapy, tai chi, and yoga. In addition, NCCAM is supporting a yearlong Internet-based survey of people with chronic pain and other chronic conditions to study CAM effectiveness as well as interactions among stress and coping, pain, and treatment outcomes.

What are some CAM treatments for osteoarthritis?

Among CAM approaches that have been studied for pain relief in osteoarthritis are acupuncture, glucosamine/chondroitin, herbal remedies, mineral baths (balneotherapy), and tai chi. Many of these approaches have also been studied for rheumatoid arthritis.

Why is NCCAM important?

The ultimate goal of chronic pain research is to build an evidence base that can guide pain management decisions tailored to individuals . These decisions often involve combining treatment approaches in cost-effective ways that do the best possible job of helping people with chronic pain minimize pain, maximize function, and improve quality of life.

What are some CAM practices?

People suffering from various types of chronic pain sometimes turn to other CAM practices, such as hypnotherapy, meditation, or qigong. Again, reviews of the research on these therapies have found some evidence of effectiveness but note the need for further studies.

How many people in the US suffer from chronic pain?

According to the Institute of Medicine, more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. Pain stemming from arthritis, back and other musculoskeletal conditions, and headache costs US businesses more than $61 billion per year in lost worker productivity. 1. While tremendous progress has been made in drug treatment ...

What is the role of the brain in pain?

Research projects will include investigating the role of the brain in pain processing and control, and how factors such as emotion, attention, environment, and genetics affect pain perception. The program will also explore how chronic pain produces changes in the brain that can modify how the brain reacts to pain medications like opioids.

Can tai chi help with fibromyalgia?

For example, a small study found that people with fibromyalgia may benefit from practicing tai chi. In general, research reviews have found some promising evidence of effectiveness for some CAM therapies but often emphasize that additional research is needed before treatment recommendations can be made.

What is CAM in medical terms?

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly being used by patients to assist in their fight against chronic pain. CAM has been defined as a group of diverse practices and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine as practiced by physicians and allied health professionals.

How many people use CAM?

CAM practices are often grouped into two broad categories: 1) natural products and 2) mind and body medicine. “More than 83 million people in the United States use some form of CAM therapy to manage and treat their health problems, including pain.”.

What is the American Pain Foundation's new online educational module?

To further educate healthcare providers, the American Pain Foundation has launched a new online educational module that focuses on the safe use of CAM as part of its PainSAFE (Pain Safety & Access For Everyone) initiative.

Why is chronic pain so challenging to treat?

Physicians who manage patients with chronic pain often find it challenging to treat because what works for one person doesn’t always work for another (see also, Striving Toward Quality Pain Management ).

How much money is spent on CAM?

More than $33.9 billion a year is spent on out-of-pocket visits to CAM practitioners and for the purchase of CAM products, classes, and materials. Some of the most common pain-related reasons people seek CAM therapies are for back, joint, and neck pain, arthritis, severe headaches or migraines, and fibromyalgia.

How many people are living with chronic pain?

According to current estimates, more than 116 million Americans are living with chronic pain.