5 Non-Pharmaceutical Ways To Help Pain
Opiates are often prescribed to help people manage their pain. However, opiates can be dangerous and addictive. If you suffer from chronic pain, then there are ways that you can manage pain without pharmaceuticals.
1. Get Moving
It may seem like it is a good idea for you to sit still and take it easy if you suffer from chronic pain. However, exercising can make it easier for you to manage your pain. Exercise can help stimulate the release of the body’s natural painkillers, which are endorphins. They prevent the pain signals from reaching your pain.
Exercise is also a great stress-reliever. When you are stressed, your heart beats faster and your breathing rate speeds up. Stress also causes the muscles to tense up. This is the same way that the body responds to pain. The more stress you have, the higher your cortisol levels will be. Higher cortisol levels will increase your body’s response to pain.
There has been evidence to suggest that exercise can reduce the number of cytokines that are in the body. Cytokines can promote pain and inflammation. Additionally, exercise can improve the quality of life of people who suffer from chronic pain.
Keep in mind that you do not have to exercise a lot in order to alleviate your pain. Any activity that you do that keeps you moving for at least 20 minutes will greatly benefit you.
Make sure that you stretch after you complete your workout. Stretching can improve your range of motion and mobility.
2. Follow an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Inflammation is the natural way that the body responds to discomfort. It is an important part of healing. Inflammation will occur any time that there is an injury or illness. However, when inflammation is chronic, this can trigger pain. It can also increase your risk of developing a number of health conditions.
Studies have shown that a Mediterranean-style diet can help curb inflammation. This diet is high in fruits, vegetables, healthy fats and lean meats. The Mediterranean diet is also low in sugar and refined grains, which have been shown to trigger inflammation.
3. Get Some Sun
Vitamin D can help naturally alleviate pain. You can boost your vitamin D levels by spending 15 minutes in the sun per day. There was a study done that involved 200 people who suffered from osteoarthritis. The results of the study showed that people who took between 400 and 800 IU of vitamin D per day had less pain than those who did not take any vitamin D.
4. Listen to Music
Some studies suggest that distracting yourself can help you manage your pain. A 2013 study showed that people who learned to accept the pain noticed that it decreased significantly. Music is one of the things that you can do to distract yourself from the pain. Studies have shown that people who listened to music for one hour a day noticed that their pain decreased by 12 to 21 percent.
5. Try Massage Therapy
Getting a massage can help you alleviate your pain. Not only does it take your mind off of the pain, but it can also help you relax. A quality massage helps increase blood flow to every part of the body. It also helps stimulate the release of endorphins. Furthermore, a massage helps alleviate tension.
There are many types of massages including Swedish and deep tissue. A Swedish massage is a relaxing, full-body massage. The massage therapist will use gentle strokes. A massage therapist will apply more pressure during a deep-tissue massage. It is very effective for alleviating chronic pain.
In order to get the most out of a massage, you will need to communicate with your massage therapist. Let them know if they are applying too little or too much pressure. You should also let them know if you want any oils used or music playing during the massage.
Additionally, you can perform a massage on yourself. You can instantly alleviate pain by massaging the area that is bothering you.
An opiate addiction requires professional help. If you are battling an opiate addiction, then you will need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Getting the proper treatment can prevent an addiction from ruining your life.