When you live with chronic pain, every action you take throughout the day can be excruciating. Things that people without pain take for granted, like opening medicine bottles or bending over comfortably, take extreme mental and physical determination for you. And while taking narcotic pain medication can help to give you relief, many people don’t want to take the chance of bad side effects or potential addiction. When this is the case, there are still ways you can manage your pain without having to visit the pharmacy multiple times a month.
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Physical Movement
There are a lot of physical pains that movement of your body can help ease. According to Amy Ahlberg, a contributor to Prevention.com, yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi can all help with pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, migraines, back pain and more. Stretching out your joints and muscles while simultaneously getting more blood flowing to those problems areas is what makes these options successful. However, be sure you consult with your doctors before you begin any type of stretching or exercise routine—the last thing you want to do is make any of your pain worse due to injury.
Herbal Remedies
Aside from prescription medication, there are other forms of medication you can take to help ease your pain. These natural and holistic ways for pain management are often referred to as herbal remedies. Depending on the type of pain you’re dealing with, the type of herbal remedy you’ll want to use will vary. For example, according to Juhie Bhatia, a contributor to EverydayHealth.com, feverfew is known to help with migraines and joint pain while turmeric can ease pain from inflammation or chronic heartburn. Other helpful herbal remedies include ginger, capsaicin and ginseng. To ensure you’re using the right herbal remedies, talk with an herbalist or homeopathic doctor prior to taking any herbs for pain.
Spa-Like Assistance
Many practices that are oftentimes seen as relaxation techniques can also be extremely helpful for addressing pain. James Roland, a contributor to Healthline.com, shares that massage, acupuncture and systematically using heat and ice can all be used as natural painkillers as well. In the case of acupuncture, the practice helps to release serotonin, which can naturally ease pain within your body. Massage and heat or ice help your body to have increased blood flow and less inflammation, which can minimize pain as well. Not only will these practices leave you feeling less pain, but they will also help to relax your body and mind as well.
You don’t have to live in pain if you choose not to use pharmaceutical medication. Use the tips mentioned above to help ease your chronic pain in a natural way today.