4 drug-free fixes for pain

From headaches to arthritis, when you're suffering from pain, relief doesn't necessarily have to come from a prescription. Try these four drug-free fixes for pain to see if they work for you.

• Millions of Canadians take prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and pain. And yet Canada's Adverse Drug Reaction Database shows 456 serious adverse reactions to Celebrex alone within five years, 30 of them leading to death
• Fish oil supplements are a completely natural compound that can relieve your pain and provide additional health benefits as well
• When researchers from the neurosurgery department at the University of Pittsburgh asked 125 people with back and neck pain who were already taking NSAIDs to add 2,400 milligrams a day of omega-3 fatty acids for two weeks, followed by 1,200 milligrams per day thereafter, 59 percent said they completely stopped their NSAID medication after two weeks and were pain-free, while 60 percent of the rest of the participants who were still taking NSAIDs said their overall level of pain had improved when they added the fish oil
• Look for pharmaceutical-grade fish oil, which is guaranteed toxin-free

• You can get more pain relief from a muscle-warming wrap like ThermaCare Heat Wrap than you can from ibuprofen or acetaminophen. At least, that's what a well-designed study of 371 people with low back pain found
• Plus, if you wear the wrap overnight, you'll have less pain for at least two days — even without the wrap
• However, in the interest of full disclosure, we should tell you that the wrap's manufacturer — Procter & Gamble — sponsored the study
• We say, go ahead and try it anyway. It certainly isn't going to increase your risk of liver, kidney and heart damage the way over-the-counter pain relievers can

• Before you make the cash registers ring at the local pharmacy, try this remedy: from a standing position, bend forward from the hips and settle your forehead onto the padding of a chair
• Relax in this position for 30 seconds, feeling the gentle pressure against your head
• Then sit down in the chair, spread your fingers, slide them into your hair and make a fist
• Pull your hair gently away from your scalp, hold for three seconds, then release
• This relieves tension in the connective tissues underlying your scalp
• Continue this process of grabbing handfuls of hair and pulling gently
• Work your way from the top of your head to the sides and finally to the back
• With the tension relieved in your entire scalp, you should feel refreshed and ready to resume your day

• The active ingredient in chili peppers — capsaicin — is one of the most effective pain relievers around for arthritis pain
• You don't swallow capsaicin, however; you apply a cream containing it to the painful area
• Experts think it works by depleting something called substance P, a chemical that transmits pain messages to your brain
• Give it time: you have to apply capsaicin four times a day for several days before it kicks in, but the relief will be worth it
• If you can find the cream combined with glyceryl-trinitrate (GTN), a compound that stimulates the release of nitric oxide, grab it. Not only does GTN reduce the stinging that occurs when you first apply the capsaicin cream, but the two together seem to work better than either alone at reducing pain
• Keep your hands away from your face and eyes when applying, and wash your hands immediately after each application

Of course, these fixes won't replace the medical advise and treatment of your doctor or healthcare professional, but they may be a helpful addition to your pain-management plan.