Living with chronic pain can be a tough cross to bear, and you may find that painkillers will be the only thing that will take away the pain. However, painkillers can be addictive, and the number of chronic pain patients that end up hooked on Vicodin, Oxycodone, and other painkillers is very high. If you want to deal with your pain the healthy way, consider these alternatives:
Yoga — For those with chronic muscle, joint, and back pain, Yoga can be one of the best solutions for managing the pain. Yoga will help to stretch the muscles, and it will promote healthy blood flow to the stretched areas. It can help to strengthen the muscles of the back, shoulders, arms, and legs, and you'll find that it will be one of the best ways to deal with pain caused by structural problems. A lot of the back and joint pain is the result of incorrect posture, misuse of the body, and lack of strength in the muscles.
Acupuncture — The idea of getting needles poked into your skin definitely doesn't seem like a pain management technique, but expert pain management doctors will confirm that acupuncture can be very effective at managing pain. You'd be amazed by how the needles will reduce the pain by opening up the energy pathways in your body. Even if you don’t believe in Oriental or holistic medicine and treatments, it's worth giving Acupuncture a try. You'll be surprised to find it works!
Meditation — Meditation is used by many religions, but it's a profoundly personal practice that will improve your life in every way. There are many meditative techniques that you can learn that will help you manage your pain, such as the ones used by Buddhist monks and martial arts masters. You don't have to delve into the religious aspect of it, but using meditation techniques can be a natural way to handle pain.
Hypnosis — Hypnosis is more than just a trick used by stage magicians, but it can be effective on most people. You naturally want to eliminate pain, and hypnosis just helps to strengthen the desires in your mind by implanting suggestions in your subconscious. It may not be able to eliminate the pain, but it can help you to manage it. A 1996 panel of the NIH found that hypnosis can actually help to reduce pain, and you may want to consider it if you want to deal with your pain the natural, healthy way.
Lifestyle Changes — Every disorder comes with changes you'll have to make in your life, and the same goes with pain. If you are experiencing structural pains in your bones and muscles, it may be time to look into a more ergonomic lifestyle. Reducing your stress will help to reduce the tension in your body, exercise can help to flood your body with endorphins – a hormone that will make you feel better. Alcohol can make your pain worse, so consider cutting it out of your life.
julianswilson says
Depending on the pain killers is an abominable idea for dealing with pain. Yoga no doubt is one of the natural ways to manage the pain; it helps in the better stretching of the muscles and improved flexibility that is the most essential requirement for our body.
BlissPlan says
You are SO right. Stretching our muscles and relaxing our bodies always helps with pain. Always!