When most people think of a treatment plan to manage chronic pain, they usually imagine some combination of pain relievers; either over the counter or prescription medication; and a mixture of physical and behavioral therapies. These options are what we might consider a traditional treatment plan, but doctors are beginning to explore adding music therapy to these traditional plans. When we look deeper at the five “A’s” of pain management, we can begin to understand why.
The Five “A’s” of Pain Management
The five “A’s” of pain management are Analgesia (pain relief), Activities, (functioning), Adverse effects (side effects), Aberrant behaviors (negative effects of medications), and Affect (mood). Music therapy can be an essential tool in addressing two of the A’s; pain relief and mood.
Research has shown that music can help patients reduce their pain perception but, up until recently, doctors had to rely on patient self-reporting. Patient self-reporting can tell us that music works but it doesn’t explain how and why it works. However, through the advancement neuroimaging equipment and techniques, we can see exactly how music affects the brain.
Understanding How We Process Pain
The sensation that we experience as pain actually utilizes many different processes that result in a complex network of interactions in the brain. But this complex network isn’t just to detect and process pain. It’s part of a larger network that detects and responds to any important stimulation.
Processing music requires a large-scale involvement of both sides of the brain which overlaps with pain processing parts. In this way, music can be used to “overload” the system, so to speak. This technique diverts attention away from the pain to a competing and pleasurable stimulus that strongly activates the brain reward system (dopamine).
How Music Therapy Helps
Music is also shown to foster relaxation, reduce anxiety, and boost mood. For many chronic pain sufferers, anxiety will immediately precede a pain event, which is then followed by depression. When incorporated into daily living, music therapy can ameliorate anxiety which can then lead to fewer pain events and help boost mood after a pain event and alleviate depression.
Music therapy is an ideal addition to any pain management treatment plan as it is readily available, low risk, and inexpensive. A board certified music therapist (MT-BC) can customize a treatment plan for your individual needs to maximize effectiveness and can show you how to self-administer the plan for day to day use.
References
Sihvonen, A. J., Pitkäniemi, A., Särkämö, T., & Soinila, S. (2022). Isn’t there room for music in chronic pain management? The Journal of Pain, 23(7), S1526-5900(22)000153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2022.01.003
