Medication can be a useful and effective tool to relieve pain, but it comes with some downsides such as awful side effects and becoming dependent. Some of the following natural methods may alleviate pain better than modern medication. While every method isn't guaranteed to work for everyone, they are safe and easy to try.
Our bodies are designed for movement. If you are not moving much because you are in pain, it could lead to more serious pain in the future. Perform gentle stretches to help increase your mobility and ROM (Range of Motion). Stretching may also help relieve some pain in tight muscles or joints. Your physical therapist or doctor may be able to help find you appropriate stretches for your unique condition.
In this case-study, patients with plantar fasciitis (heel pain) performed stretches which
were found to relieve a considerable amount of pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23844489
It's still not completely understood how this ancient Chinese healing technique works, but it has been proven by studies to reduce types of chronic pain by triggering specific nerve points in the body, which decrease pain and release endorphins. It has also been shown that acupuncture may activate pain suppressing receptors generating adenosine which affect the brain's long-term ability to regulate pain.
For example, in this case study, the patient stopped experiencing migraines for several months: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921614/
Massages get the blood flowing and relax muscles, which supports your body in healing itself. This also frees endorphins, which are highly effective at relieving pain. Animal research has also concluded that massage triggers a release of natural painkillers called opioids into the brain. Other animal studies also imply that massage raises the flow of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes feelings of calmness and relaxes the muscles. Oxytocin appears to be the identical hormone that circulates through women before giving birth. It helps improve the bond between 'infant and mother' and also relaxes the uterus.
Link to the case study of endorphins and their role in pain management: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3104618/
Meditation can be extremely effective at relieving stress and pain. It is a very simple procedure that requires some personal space and a quiet environment. A simple method is to find a pleasant sound with no special meaning, lie or sit somewhere comfortable, shut your eyes and repeat the sound in your mind. Gradually progress until you can reach the thirty-minute mark.
You can also follow guided meditations which often incorporates a source providing ideas to guide your meditative thoughts. You can start with online DVDs or videos or you could attend a local meditation class.
In this case study, it was found that meditation helped improve depression and pain symptoms: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5368208/
Give these organic methods a try and we are sure you will feel better without the added chemicals in your body.