Whether it’s a low-level discomfort or severe aches, dealing with chronic pain is never easy. Chronic pain can even interfere with your life, keeping you from doing day-to-day activities you want and need to do.
However, experiencing relief from chronic pain shouldn’t involve only the use of over-the-counter painkillers or opioid prescriptions. Consider alleviating your aches and discomfort by trying these simple and natural methods.
What Is Chronic Pain?
The NHS defines chronic pain as a “pain that carries on for longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment…[also affecting]…people living with: diabetes, arthritis, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel and back pain”.
Chronic, or persistent pain, is long-term pain, which over time may affect what a person can do, their sleep schedule, and it may also negatively affect those around them. Acute or short-term pain is activated through the nervous system, alerting the person to an injury. Chronic pain is very different as it is persistent, and the pain signals continue to trigger the nervous system for long periods. Common chronic pain conditions include, but are not limited to, cluster headaches, fibromyalgia (widespread muscle and joint pain), and persistent lower back pain. In addition to overwhelming pain, people often also describe pain associated problems, including sleeplessness, low mood, anxiety, altered body temperature, fatigue and dizziness.
Try Out Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation
Individuals experiencing chronic pain are increasingly turning to yoga and mindfulness meditation as a natural treatment. Initial studies suggest that mindfulness meditation can help to prevent depression and improve pain symptoms and quality of life, while a 2013 study found that yoga might help to relieve low back pain and neck pain. However, there is not enough evidence, and larger studies are needed to prove this evidence.
Find a suitable, quiet place and start by meditating for 5 to 10 minutes to help your body relax and diminish tension, which can ease the pain. Gradually lengthen your daily practice time to 10, 20, or even 30 minutes. When you start yoga, perform the stretches slowly and advance only if you feel comfortable to help increase the flexibility of the spine, improve the health of muscles and joints and also reduce stiffness and aches in your back.
Maintain A Healthy Diet
If you are subjected to chronic pain, it is essential to prioritise healthy choices. A well-balanced diet is crucial in many ways – keeping weight under control, aiding your digestive process, improving blood sugar levels, reducing heart disease risk, and even lowering or eliminating inflammatory reactions in the body. Aside from eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet, try to include high in fibre and anti-inflammatory foods. People that sustain high-fibre diets have a healthy balance of microbes in the digestive tract and less osteoarthritis pain. On the other hand, consuming anti-inflammatory foods and drinks on a regular basis can help to alleviate your back pain as anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and even anti-cancer agents might build up in your blood.
Spice Up Your Meals Turmeric
This bright yellow spice possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties due to the active ingredient called Curcuma. Studies suggest that taking Curcuma extract for managing the pain of knee osteoarthritis is as effective as ibuprofen when a person consumes it for four weeks.
To include turmeric powder in your nutrition plan, you can add a small quantity (1/2 teaspoon) of it to your meals, sauces, smoothies, juices, or teas. As an alternative, you can purchase a curcumin supplement in a capsule form.
Stay Hydrated
To function properly, every system in the body needs water. As water affects every cell and organ in our bodies, dehydration might make chronic pain worse as well as lead to other unpleasant symptoms, including weakness, dizziness, fatigue, blurred vision, hearing loss and slowed metabolism.
Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of fresh and clean water. However, try to avoid caffeinated drinks, like coffee, energy drinks and tea, as well as alcohol as these beverages will make you more dehydrated.
Turn To Use Of CBD Oil
Cannabidiol (short for CBD) is a natural and generally safe supplement with promising health benefits. CBD is able to influence special receptors of the complex endocannabinoid system involved in crucial body functions such as pain, memory, sleep, immune response, stress, sleep, and many others.
The pain-relieving effects produced by CBD could be explained by how CBD affects the brain. It may interrupt the nerve impulses that send pain signals between the body and the brain. To achieve benefits from CBD oil consumption, the user must understand how to take it correctly. Every person is different, so once you have worked out your dosage, it is vital to build your CBD oil intake steadily and consistently to find your perfect balance. Consistency is an essential factor, as your body will be better able to adapt to the CBD consumption, and it will be easier for you to explore the potential impacts. Also, there are a variety of CBD products with different concentrations and methods of intake, such as CBD capsules, vape pens, topicals, transdermal patches, drinks, edibles, etc. Make sure to choose the best CBD oil item and suitable product format that can fulfil your particular needs.
Get A Massage
While you might think of massage as an ultimate indulgence, rubdown is not only beneficial for body care. Slow, deep strokes positively impact the deep layers of the muscles and connective tissue, promoting flexibility and mobility, while decreasing pain and stiffness.
You can simply use a home massager for relief or access massage from a qualified massage therapist. Also, consider visiting a physical therapist to adequately view your posture, work on underlying postural habits or solve structural issues that may be contributing to this problem.
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