Physical pain often accompanies many medical conditions. Unfortunately, the pain from them can become chronic. For those who have to suffer through chronic pain, there are several treatments available. Most of the time, these involve medication. Painkillers are very effective, but they cannot always be available for use. For those who want something more natural for their pain, here are some useful techniques you can use.
Meditation
Learning meditation may be a surprising approach for dealing with pain, but research shows that it can help relax the body’s muscles. A lot of the pain that people experience comes from tense muscles. With meditation, you can learn to ease all that tension out. Some rheumatoid arthritis care professionals recommend meditation as a way to help control the pain that sufferers experience.
Deep Breathing
Another useful technique for handling pain is deep breathing. Similar to meditation, it helps ease the tension from your muscles. It is a simple process, and you can do it anywhere. All you need is a quiet place for you to sit down and relax. Deep breathing is all about breathing in as much as you can then deflating slowly, letting your exhale help relax your body. Doing this several times a day will help you relax so that the stress does not build in your muscles.
Exercise
Many things recommend exercise for those who suffer from chronic pain. One reason for pain is weak muscles. The result is that they strain to do their jobs like supporting your back or even basic movement. With exercise, you can greatly strengthen them. This reduces the pain you experience while also improving your general health. Weaker muscles are also prone to further injuries so you can avoid more pain in the future. Besides pain prevention, exercise also releases the body’s natural painkillers: endorphins. Daily exercise means that you get a dose of these painkillers daily, which can be a big help.
If you want to start exercising, you should consult with your doctor or therapist about safe exercise programs for you. This ensures that you are not going to cause yourself any further injury. Some chronic pain conditions also have specific problem areas. For example, back pain sufferers have to focus on strengthening their lower back muscles and nearby parts of the body.
Distract Yourself
A surprisingly effective to handle pain is distracting yourself. Once you reduce the pain to a sufficient level, you can learn to distract yourself from the minor pinpricks that you are experiencing. You could usually do this with visualization techniques. For example, people often imagine themselves in a pleasant field full of flowers when they experience chronic pain. They can also repeat certain words or phrases so that they can better handle the pain.
You can learn visualization with the help recordings that you can play at home. Distracting yourself does not have to be that complex. You can try taking your attention away from the pain by watching an engaging movie or reading a good book. Distractions can come from multiple sources, and they can all be very effective.
Use Biofeedback
In a science-fiction twist, you can use biofeedback techniques to manipulate particular body functions. The simple idea behind it is that you have to wear sensors that monitor various things like your heart rate and muscle tension. You can then see the monitoring results on a screen. Your goal is to control those results by willing your body to do particular things like slowing your heart rate or easing your muscles. It sounds like fiction, but it is possible to master your body in that way. The machine is only a beginner’s tool. It will tell you when you succeed, but once you can consistently do it, you should be able to do biofeedback on your own, at any time.
Improve Your Diet
It would be best if you had a well-balanced diet. Many chronic pain conditions like gout and others are the result of imbalances in your body chemistry. This is due to diet with too much of one thing. A balanced diet ensures that your body has everything that it needs while also stopping you from overindulging. Eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet can greatly ease the burden on your body. Consult with your doctor on what changes you need to make in your diet.
Chronic pain is difficult. But the right techniques can allow you to experience daily life with only minor discomfort. Consult with your doctor for additional techniques and combine them so that you can experience a better quality of life.