Chronic Pain Management Plan
You can’t get chronic pain relief with a single treatment. It takes a combination approach. First step: work with your doctor. But don’t stop there. Try every trick in the book to relieve pain until you’ve developed a comprehensive action plan that works for you. From adopting a healthy diet and exercise routine to using massage or acupuncture for pain, check out this array of pain relief remedies.
Food for PainCan foods fight pain? Some might, if you combine them with an overall healthy, antioxidant-rich diet. Early findings suggest that certain foods high in fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins D and C, and polyphenols have the potential to circumvent pain-triggering mechanisms in the body. They can also boost bone density, build muscle, protect cartilage, and stymie pain-aggravating weight gain.
Break Habits That Make Pain Worse
Can bad habits amplify what hurts? They might. Unchecked weight gain, out-of-control stress, and poor sleep are just a few lifestyle factors that top the list of pain-aggravators. But it’s easy to do something about such ache-inducers.
Fight Pain with ExerciseCoping with chronic pain every day can certainly erode your motivation to exercise. But you’ll feel better if you keep moving. Why? Because a regular exercise routine can loosen stiff, achy joints and muscles; boost production of endorphins, your body’s natural painkillers; and prevent excess pounds from creeping on and making your pain worse.
Body Mechanics and Body Pain
Can everyday activities intensify chronic pain? They can if you don’t perform them safely. In fact, your posture and biomechanics can either make or break your chronic pain management plan. For example, that one-hour back massage won’t help if you slouch at your desk the very next day and reignite your pain. So, whether you’re driving the car or lifting a potted plant, mind how you use your body.