| Clinical research indicates that pain is a complex and individualized phenomenon and that pain management strategy must take into account the individual patient, including the interaction of genetic, physiological, anatomical, neural, hormonal, psychological, lifestyle, pain history, life cycle, and sociocultural factors that change over a life span. A multicultural and multidisciplinary approach is presented for managing chronic physical pain and its emotional ramifications without the use of medication. Western and Chinese medical models and Western and Eastern psychology and philosophy are reviewed and compared. Fibromyalgia, neck pain, back pain, arthritis, temperomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, headache, and migraine are discussed along with the possible involvement of female hormones with pain syndrome. The author describes managing her fibromyalgia without medication while incorporating traditional Chinese medicine and Buddhist principles and practices. The information is useful for chronic pain patients, caregivers, medical professionals, psychotherapists, and the public. |
