Pain is taxing. It takes a massive toll on your quality of life and impacts your ability to function. Chronic pain can be incredibly debilitating. Sometimes it may seem like it will never go away on its own.
Many people take pills and pursue invasive procedures to deal with chronic pain, but that isn’t a good fit for everyone. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to manage chronic pain naturally.
Practice Yoga
Moving may be the last thing you want to do when experiencing chronic pain, but it can help, as counterintuitive as that may seem. Practicing yoga can be beneficial. Yoga helps strengthen your muscles while simultaneously stretching them.
It can help you learn to relax your muscles. Learning to relax your muscles is especially important for those who experience chronic pain since one of the body’s natural responses to pain is to tense up. Relaxing your muscles can help you avoid making your chronic pain worse due to too much tension.
Get a Massage
Massage like this massage therapy in Rowley, MA is another great way to relax your muscles. Muscles that are tense for too long tend to become knotted, something that only exacerbates chronic pain. Muscle tension isn’t the only way a massage can help though.
The pressure of a massage can help ease pain related to arthritis. How frequently you should get a massage varies from person to person, but once a month works well for many. Make sure you drink plenty of water after getting a massage to help your body recover.
Pay Attention to Diet and Hydration
Speaking of water, proper hydration, along with what you eat, can help with chronic pain. At a minimum, staying hydrated helps you avoid making your chronic pain worse. Limit your consumption of alcohol, carbonated beverages, and caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee. These drinks tend to dehydrate you. If your pain is due to inflammation, eat foods that reduce inflammation and avoid those that may increase it. Dairy, eggs, tomatoes, red meat, eggplant, and (unfortunately) chocolate may contribute to increased inflammation in the body. Talk to your doctor before making serious dietary changes, however. They can help you create a plan that will get you the nutrients you need without increasing your risk of inflammation.
You don’t have to live your life suffering from chronic pain. Learn as much as you can about why you’re experiencing chronic pain. Talk to your doctor if you need help with that. If you know what’s causing your pain, it may be easier to find solutions that help you manage it naturally.
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Feature Photo credit: Photo by Keenan Constance on Unsplash
