The Future of Pain Management Resides in Conservative Care
SAN DIEGO (Sept. 10, 2025) — For decades, treating pain often meant reaching for a prescription pad. Opioids quickly became the go-to solution for everything from short-term injuries to chronic conditions. Today, health care providers are turning toward more thoughtful paths of pain management.
Initially considered a breakthrough, opioid medications soon revealed a darker side: dependency, addiction, and a national crisis that began in the 1990s and escalated into a full-blown epidemic by 2011. This public health emergency prompted a necessary reassessment of how we approach pain.
"It has become clear that while opioids may offer short-term relief, they rarely address the root causes of pain and often result in additional complications," said American Specialty Health (ASH) Chief Health Services Officer Douglas Metz, DC. "In response, the health care community should emphasize its focus toward safer and more sustainable solutions."
One of the most promising shifts in pain management has been the rise of conservative care, which prioritizes non-invasive, non-surgical, and often non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing pain and other health conditions.
"Think of treatments that focus on restoring movement and supporting the body's natural healing process, like physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, and therapeutic massage," Dr. Metz said.
This approach is supported by a growing body of evidence and is backed by leading health care organizations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Physicians now recommend conservative care as a first-line treatment for many musculoskeletal conditions. These updated guidelines reflect an increasing understanding that effective pain management goes beyond masking symptoms with medications or altering the body structure through surgery.
What sets conservative care apart is its comprehensive, patient-centered approach.
"Conservative care solutions consider the full picture: physical, emotional, and behavioral health and social factors," Dr. Metz said. "This is often referred to as the 'biopsychosocial approach' to recovery, which allows for individualized care plans that empower patients to actively participate in their recovery process."
When introduced early, conservative care can prevent acute pain from becoming chronic and minimize reliance on medication, Dr. Metz added.
The transition to a conservative care first model is not without its challenges, though. While awareness is growing, ensuring consistent access to high-quality, evidence-based care remains a hurdle. Health systems need scalable solutions that deliver care efficiently and cost-effectively and align with clinical best practices. Fortunately, innovation is helping close these gaps.
According to Dr. Metz, virtual care platforms, digital coaching tools, and integrated care pathways are expanding access and making it more convenient for patients to engage in treatment. At the same time, health care education is evolving to equip clinicians with necessary information to provide guidance for recommending non-pharmaceutical strategies.
Solutions like the ASH Pain Management Program are helping to lead to this transformation.
With a nationwide network of more than 126,000 musculoskeletal practitioners, ASH connects members to evidence-based services such as virtual physical and occupational therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and physical and occupational therapy clinic-based services. Each is supported by navigation coordination, cognitive behavioral interventions, and comprehensive digital self-care tools that support long-term recovery.
Conservative-care first solutions do consider that some patients need medication and/or surgical intervention for certain conditions and those patients are immediately encouraged to pursue medical services when they are the gold standard for the patient's condition.
"As we look ahead," Dr. Metz said, "It's essential that healthcare leaders continue to invest in solutions that support conservative care. Pain management shouldn't be one-size-fits-all. It should be personalized and focused on long-term relief."
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier independent and privately owned specialty health organizations offering technology-enabled services for benefits management and administrative services for health plans, and partners with employers, associations, and others. ASH currently covers 62+ million eligible members nationwide. With offices in California and Indiana, ASH has more than 1,700 employees. For more information about ASH, visit ASHCompanies.com; follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook; or call 800-848-3555.