Biofeedback helps people control their heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension with special machines. Biofeedback is usually used with other pain relief methods. Imagery means using your imagination to create mental pictures or situations to reduce pain. The relief can last during imagery and for hours afterward.
Hypnosis is a trance-like state between sleeping and waking.
It can be used to block the awareness of pain or to substitute another feeling for the pain. Skin stimulation involves applying massage, pressure, vibration, heat, cold and menthol preparations to the skin on or near the area of pain to reduce or block the feeling of pain. Acupuncture is a widely accepted method of pain relief. Thin needles are inserted into the body at certain points for 15 to 30 minutes. Each point controls the pain sensation of a different part of the body.