Could Music Emerge As A Viable Chronic Pain Treatment?

May 5, 2023May 5, 2023 / Thomas Cohn, MD

A recent study suggests that listening to music could be a complementary alternative to medication for treating some forms of chronic pain. And while throwing on a pair of headphones is unlikely to fully resolve your chronic pain, it does give hope that alternative treatments could prove beneficial when opioids aren’t yielding the necessary results.

The study was very small in nature, so we can’t assume the results will be reproduced in a larger population. In fact, the research was actually a case study involving only one person – a woman who had been living with a chronic pain condition for over 20 years. She had tried different opioid regimens but they had not produced the results she had hoped for.

In the study, the woman listened to music in a number of different aspects of her life. The study wanted to explore her experience of the context in which she listened to music, the intensity and quality of pain, body mapping, memories, emotions and more. She listened to music to aid in pain and anxiety relief, to provide motivation for exercise and to improve her sleep, all with the singular focus of helping manage her pain condition. At the same time, she discontinued her opioid regimen.

Study Results

After tracking the individual for an extended period, researchers noted that she was responding positively to the music therapy. Researchers found:

Listening to music not only provided some pain relief, but it also helped to reduce withdrawal effects after discontinuing her opioid-based treatment.

The instrumental properties and the frequency with which music is used may influence the effectiveness of music-induced analgesia.

The woman showed improvements in physiological and cognitive aspects, including perceived restorative sleep, which may have influenced her overall well-being and cognitive performance.

The participant’s communications skills were also enhanced, helping her better understand her pain and destigmatize her condition.

Researchers concluded the case study by saying that music could be a powerful tool in helping manage chronic pain. Their findings suggest that music-induced analgesia involves complex cognitive and emotional mechanics, which may impact the descending pain pathway. They noted that while music therapy may not be right for everyone, music-induced analgesia may be a viable option for some individuals with chronic pain. They hope that future studies will continue to build on the idea that music could help to influence the brain and help reframe our perception of pain.

We already know that the right song can influence our mood and change our mindset, so it should come as no surprise that music could have an impact on our perception of pain. While we still stand behind more research-backed techniques like exercise and physical therapy, it may not be a bad idea to put your favorite song on the radio the next time you’re dealing with a pain flareup.

For help with your pain condition, or to talk to a specialist about your chronic pain issue, reach out to Dr. Cohn today at (952) 738-4580.

Music Can Help Ease Chronic Pain, So Long As We Can Pick The Song

August 17, 2022 / Thomas Cohn, MD

As we’ve talked about on the blog in the past, previous studies have found that the arts can help certain patients better manage their chronic pain condition. Recently, a group of researchers took things one step further when the tested how music could impact someone’s perception of pain. They found that music can help to drown out pain signals, especially when the listener believed they had control over what song they were listening to.

Music And Pain Management

To improve our understanding of how pain levels can being affected by music, researchers asked 286 adults experiencing real-world chronic pain to rate their pain both before and after listening to a music track. The music was specially designed in two different versions with varying complexities, and participants were randomly assigned to hear either the low- or high-complexity versions. Some participants were also randomly selected to be given the impression that they had control over the music qualities in the song, although the same version was played regardless of their selection.

After tracking reported pain levels before and after listening to the musical track, researchers found that participants who felt that they had control over the music experienced greater relief in the intensity of their pain compared to participants who were not given such an impression. Moreover, participants who stated that they actively engage with music in their everyday life experienced even greater pain-relief benefits from having a perceived sense of control over the song they heard. No connection between music complexity and pain relief was found.

The findings suggest that the ability to control what we listen to – or at least the appearance of such control – is important for optimizing music’s pain-reveling potential.

“Now we know that the act of choosing music is an important part of the wellbeing benefits that we see from music listening,” the study authors concluded. “It’s likely that people listen more closely, or more carefully when they choose the music themselves.”

So while it’s unlikely that your pain specialist will prescribe a healthy dose of time with your iPod at your next appointment, there does seem to be some merit to helping to drown out pain sensations by connecting with music of your choice. Consider pairing other active pain management treatments like physical therapy or exercise with some of your favorite songs, and you may notice an even bigger reduction in your pain perception.

And as always, if you want help with a new or ongoing pain problem, reach out to Dr. Cohn and his team today at (952) 738-4580.

Could Music and Art Lower Chronic Pain Risk?

August 14, 2018 / Thomas Cohn, MD

If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you know that we like to pitch certain conservative treatment options for chronic pain. Activities like controlled exercise, stretching techniques and a healthy diet can help to control chronic pain and decrease your likelihood of flare ups. But what if other activities could provide similar benefits? Activities like going to a concert or checking out an art exhibit?

According to a new study published in the Journal of Pain, adding some culture to your regular routine could help to reduce your likelihood of chronic pain. For their study, researchers looked at data from a 10-year study that tracked the progression of pain in more than 2,600 older adults living in England. None of the participants were experiencing pain at the beginning of the study, but after 10 years, more than 42 percent said they experienced moderate to severe chronic pain.

Chronic Pain and Culture

Some of the findings were not all that surprising. Researchers found that individuals with poor sleep patterns, those who had mental health problems and those who were poorer and less educated were more likely to suffer from chronic pain. But one aspect they found interesting was the association between participation in cultural or social events and the development of chronic pain. Researchers noticed that stretching and endurance training were more likely to reduce the risk of developing chronic pain when those activities were paired with participation in cultural and social events.

“This study also found evidence that psychosocial factors may be protective against the development of chronic pain, in particular engagement in cultural activities such as going to museums, art galleries, exhibitions, concerts, the theatre or the opera,” wrote lead author Daisy Fancourt, PhD, a senior research associate at University College London. “It is notable that the odds ratios for cultural engagement were directly comparable with those of vigorous physical activity, suggesting a reduction of 25-26% in risk of chronic pain incidence.”

Why The Reduction In Chronic Pain?

So why do researchers believe that chronic pain likelihood may be reduced by visiting a museum or checking out a summer concert? According to them, the event is likely paired with some gentle physical activity, which can be beneficial for your body, as well as psychological benefits that come from social engagement and positive cultural experiences.

“This study is the first to explore simultaneously potential physical and psychosocial protective factors for the development of chronic pain in older adults. Our results demonstrate that both vigorous weekly activity and regular cultural engagement appear to reduce risk of incident chronic moderate-severe pain,” the researchers concluded.

Although the study was observational in nature, it points to an interesting correlation. Get outside, explore new places and find an enjoyable cultural experience, and you may be able to reduce your chronic pain risk. A visit to the museum shouldn’t be your only treatment technique, but when added to a regular care plan, it may have some rewarding effects!