When chronic pain sets in, people resort to the medicine cabinet for temporary pain management and relief although it does not stop the pain or even cure the cause. Pain relief also doesn’t come through a bottle of pills or painkillers. Also, pain relief does not have an approach of one-size fits all.
Pain often interferes with your ability to work and enjoy life. It can lead to other health conditions and even create anxiety. Many people opt for different pain treatments and remedies, even adhering to a strict regimen for their schedules.
Pain relief is important for people who do not want to stop doing things they love most, like playing with children and participating in adventure activities. For pain relief without pills, here are some methods of pain relief that are effective too:
- Exercise
About 80 percent of people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cite fatigue as the biggest effect of their condition, according to Israel Medical Association Journal in 2014.
Getting regular exercise is a must though. Lower activity levels also reduce muscle strength and increase arthritis pain and regular exercise can help ease the pain, improving daily function, and lower fatigue. Walking is good for people with rheumatoid arthritis too.
According to Trent Nessler, Vice President, Champion Sports Medicine, exercise improves pain threshold. He attributes the drop in pain threshold to chronic pain. He advises his patients to perform cardiovascular, strengthening, and flexibility exercises for improving their pain threshold. But he recommends those suffering from pain to check in with a physical therapist or an athletic trainer to show appropriate exercises based on the condition, since some exercises may be applicable for 75% of people, but maybe for the rest 25%, it might not be advisable.
It is advisable to stretch your muscles and soothe joints within the pool as it helps control weight, and even improves sleep. Doing aerobic exercises and slowly increasing the duration of sessions can aid in reducing pain too. One doesn’t have to hit the gym for a good workout. One can exercise at home and even gardening work like pulling out weeds, or cutting the grass can lead to a mild workout.
Massage, on the other hand, offers therapeutic benefits for all sorts of chronic pain alleviation. Opt for some gentle techniques for the messages so that they relax muscles and reduce chronic pain.
- Block the pain signals
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is a pain relief machine that has been used for decades to safely block nerve pain.
This drug-free technology is one of the most effective tools to alleviate pain. It is an affordable, portable device that has to be simply placed where it pains a lot.
The discreet pads emit a controlled micro-electronic current that blocks nerves from transmitting pain signals, thus providing fast, effective relief for aches without having to resort to drugs and the like.
The device can be calibrated for different body parts and usually offer 15 levels of intensity and self-adhesives, replaceable gels and the like for application.
Pick up a Wireless Tens Machine that can provide you pain relief at the earliest. This is recommended by practitioners and physiotherapists for reducing pain, without having to pop in pills.
- Stand, sit and lift smart
It is essential to be aware of how one uses their back every day. The amount of stress on the back can lead to increase in pain, hence one should concentrate on reducing lower back pain.
The right postures and gait are important while standing and sitting for long periods of time. Maintain a neutral pelvic position while standing and keep the back straight while you stand and sit for a long time.
Walk around once every hour especially if most of your work demands long periods of sitting. A Hunched position is bad for your back and can eventually cause soreness.
Additionally, when lifting loads or even your child at home, let legs take the strain rather than the back. Also try to bend only at the knees, and keep the load close to you.
Avoid lifting and twisting on a simultaneous basis as it might lead to unwanted strains.
- Evaluate Your Shoes
Most people ignore the quality of their shoes while buying. They use the wrong pair of shoes for running, working, riding bikes, and the like.
Even though the fitness activity is important, it is essential to opt for orthopedic shoes for those suffering from pain. It is also possible to make a more active recovery with orthotic inserts in normal shoes. These shoes help prevent heel pain.
Additionally, wearing good shoes give good pressure on all acupressure points, thus allowing wearers to solve their pain problems in other parts of the body.
- Sleep well
Sleep is quite important for the overall well-being of a person, and sound sleep allows the body to recover from pain, minor diseases, and bruises.
Inadequate sleep and back pain have been connected and they are a vicious cycle. Take some steps or a walk before hitting a pillow. Side-sleep can reduce stress on the spine. Use good, supportive mattress, and place wood for support between the mattress and the bed. This helps alleviate back pain.
