Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 people in the United States, making it difficult for those affected to lead a normal life. It is a very subjective experience and cannot be measured. The doctors rely on the patient’s description of the pain to diagnose the underlying problem.
Additionally, one person’s reason for having chronic pain may not be another’s. There are a number of conditions that cause chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, past trauma, migraines, deficiency of vitamin D, arthritis, and nerve impingement.
For these reasons, the treatment that works for one person may not work for another, which complicates the condition and makes it difficult to find a remedy.
Contents
Your mind plays an important role in how you deal with pain. While some people perceive chronic pain to be a nuisance that needs to be overcome in order to continue their daily activities.
Others run from it or fear the seriousness of pain so much that it hampers their recovery or pain management.
Using mindfulness meditation techniques, where one draws his/her attention to the present moment with “openness, curiosity, and acceptance,” allows you to refocus your mind and reframe your present experience. (1)
When used adjunctly with traditional medicine, mindfulness meditation has been shown to result in an improvement in pain.
In addition to mental relaxation techniques and healthy diet, certain alternative modalities can be used to help manage chronic pain naturally.
However, it is important to note that, when using these methods, results will vary depending on the reason for your chronic pain syndrome and its severity.
People who experience chronic pain often turn to massage therapies to improve their quality of life, and there is a good reason for this.
You can try massaging at home, but it is best to find a licensed massage therapist near you, who has experience in treating your condition. Alongside your physician and therapist, discuss a treatment plan that may incorporate this methodology.
Ginger has been used as a medicinal ingredient for thousands of years by South Asians as a cure for different kinds of pains. It helps relieve nausea, arthritis, headaches, menstrual cramps, and muscle soreness. (4)(5)
It helps to improve blood circulation in your body. Its natural analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties allow it to heal and reduce chronic pain such as joint pain, muscle pain, and back pain.
Things you’ll need:
Repeat this four times a day to get relief from chronic pain.
Turmeric is used not only as a spice in the Indian subcontinent but also as a pain-relieving ingredient. Turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties that help improve blood circulation in the body and ease the pain of sprains, strains, joint inflammation, and bruises.
It has even been shown to be effective in treating some postoperative pain. (6) The healing power of turmeric comes from the compound called curcumin.
You can also consume turmeric supplements if you don’t wish to use it in your food. It gives you the best results if used alongside regular massages for pain relief.
Things you’ll need:
Drink turmeric milk twice a day to get relief from chronic pain.
While the overall qualities of heat and warmth have been associated with comfort and relaxation, heat therapy goes a step further by providing relief to joint pain and lower back pain.
Most pains in the body arise due to strains and overexertions that create tension in the muscle and the soft tissues. Such tension restricts proper blood circulation and sends pain signals to the brain.
Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels of the muscles, increasing the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and healing the damaged tissues.
Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin. This decreases the transmissions of pain signals to the brain and relieves the discomfort partially.
It also decreases the muscle stiffness, making the body more flexible and enabling easy movements of the body parts. Additionally, for arthritic joints, heat may decrease the viscosity of synovial fluid and reduce painful stiffness. (7)
Use this remedy as and when you feel pain in your muscles.
Yoga is a mind-body practice technique originating in the East that focuses on controlled breathing, posturing, and meditation.
Yoga techniques may be learned in local yoga classes and practiced at home daily for at least 30 minutes. Discuss with your physician before beginning.
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine modality that has long been used to treat many pain conditions.
Discuss with a licensed acupuncturist their experience in treating your condition and create a plan alongside your physician.
Resources:
Englund M, Persson J, Bergström I. Lower pain and higher muscular strength in immigrant women with vitamin D deficiency following vitamin D treatment. International journal of circumpolar health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549824/. Published 2017.
Facial mists are usually assumed as exorbitantly expensive bottles of scented water. However, they actually…
To call the “smokey eye” look just another makeup trend would be a gross injustice.…
Anal itching, also known as pruritus ani, is the itching or irritation in or around…
Tired of going to the optical store every time your eyeglass cleaner gets empty? Your…
Looking for a natural way to manage your cholesterol levels? Here’s what you need to…
How does your food taste when your nose is blocked due to a common cold…
