What Doctors Can Prescribe

When you’re dealing with chronic pain, anxiety, or a lingering injury, you might wonder: what doctors can prescribe? It’s not just about popping pills. Doctors in the UK and beyond have a range of tools—some medical, some lifestyle-based—to help you feel better without relying only on drugs. A prescription isn’t always a bottle of tablets. It could be a referral to a physiotherapist, a mental health program, or even a recommendation to try massage therapy as part of your recovery plan.

For example, if you’re struggling with chronic pain, a persistent condition that doesn’t respond to standard painkillers, your doctor might suggest non-drug treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), nerve stimulation, or movement-based rehab. These aren’t optional extras—they’re evidence-backed approaches listed in NHS guidelines. Same goes for mental health treatment, conditions like anxiety and depression that often respond better to therapy and lifestyle changes than medication alone. Studies show that combining talk therapy with gentle physical activity reduces symptoms more than pills by themselves. And when it comes to pain management, a broad approach that includes physical, emotional, and environmental factors, many GPs now refer patients to remedial massage therapists to ease muscle tension, improve circulation, and reset the nervous system.

It’s not that doctors ignore medication. But they’re learning that overprescribing painkillers or antidepressants often leads to dependency, side effects, or just temporary relief. The real shift is toward holistic care. If you’ve got back pain from sitting all day, your doctor might prescribe 6 sessions of therapeutic massage—not because it’s trendy, but because it’s been proven to reduce inflammation and improve mobility. If you’re stuck in a cycle of stress and insomnia, they might refer you to a sleep coach or mindfulness program. Even in the NHS, these options are growing. You don’t need private insurance to access them.

What you won’t always hear is that you have more control than you think. You don’t have to wait for a prescription to start moving, breathing better, or reducing stress. But knowing what your doctor can legally and safely recommend gives you the power to ask the right questions. The posts below cover exactly that: what’s actually prescribed for chronic pain, mental health triggers, dental issues, and more—no hype, no fluff, just what’s real and what works.