We live at a time when about 1.5 billion people (almost 30%) in the world suffer from chronic pain. The causes of pain could be many, such as a past injury, any prevalent illness like arthritis, cancer, or neurogenic or psychogenic reasons. And even though treatment and medication and the prescribed methods for any ailment should not be compromised, we can also do some simple things that can gradually bring relief. These ways can even be practiced as preventive measures, even if you have no pain or illness.
Our Body and Mind Needs Attention
You see, most of our youth does work that involves a single posture. While millennials at the office sit at long stretches to meet their deadlines, other professionals like educators and doctors are no different. Longer work hours and sedentary lifestyles also add to their woes and put them in the clutches of several ailments involving chronic back and body pain, heart issues and obesity, among others. While working hard, one also needs to take care of the body and mind.
8 Simple Ways For Chronic Pain Relief
Get Moving
Human bodies are like machines that need energy and must keep working to function appropriately. Hence, staying physically active during the day is essential to have a healthy body and mind. Don’t escape from walking for atleast some time everyday. Undertake some physical activities at home.Take stairs instead of the lift and go for a walk or jogging daily. Gradually, you would find the pain reducing, and suffering becomes minimal, as you become busy with the activities of life.
Yoga and Exercise
In the personal experiences of many people, yoga for chronic pain is the best antidote. The effect of yoga works on the overall body and relaxes each part, starting from joints to muscles. It improves the immune system, reduces heart disease risk, controls blood sugar levels, and improves lung function, among many other benefits. Relaxation techniques like massage and other therapy are also incredible ways to feel light and reduce chronic pain. Inactivity also causes certain chronic pain conditions and can make you so weak that normal activities may seem challenging. On the other hand, exercise can help you keep your body fit, active and free from stiffness. There are muscles in your body that support the bones. A lack of yoga and exercise puts stress on the joints and weakens the whole system.
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Meditation and Breathing
Long-lasting chronic pain can cause other mental issues like depression, anxiety and stress, leading to mental suffering. Our life revolves around our breathing patterns. How we breathe tells us if we are tense or at peace. Try deep breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya to feel more aware of your present. Managing stress through the breath can make you feel relaxed, bringing down the intensity of the suffering. Meditation is another way to calm the mind, and enhance your mental strength, which helps you face the pain better.
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Focus on Other Interesting Things
Focus on the good stuff in life rather than the pain, and indulge in any other activities that interest you, which can in a way make you unaware of your pain. Create an aura of positivity and keep telling yourself that everything will be fine soon.
Seek and Provide Support
Chronic pain is not just painful but also influences life negatively. People with persisting chronic pain conditions lose the zeal to live life fully or enjoy it. But remember, it’s common among people in their middle and old age. So, why not join a group where you can seek and provide support by meeting people who are fighting for the same cause? A support group brings belongingness and also makes it easier to cope with the pain.
Avoid Extra Burdens and Charge Yourself
Many times, responsibilities exhaust you and the body starts responding negatively through back pain, neck pain, sprains in the muscles, etc. which becomes chronic later on. Understand that life is a gift and any pressure that disrupts your mind and body is not worth it. You can strike a great balance in life by understanding your limitations and not taking extra burdens. Mindfulness and meditation help you listen to your body and mind. However, there are external factors such as your diet, the amount of liquid intake, and sleep that keep you charged and also fight the causes of chronic pain. So, it’s time you ask yourself,
Am I eating nutritious food?
Am I resting well?
Am I drinking enough water?
Plan Your Tasks
Being a patient of ankylosing spondylitis (a type of arthritis that causes chronic back pain) myself, I can tell you what worked for me. It was planning my schedule a day before. Jotting down your activity schedule can prepare you for the next day while also giving yourself the time for breaks. You can also do a mix and match of different tasks based on the availability of your time, and not stress your muscles too much. Track your pain level regularly to see if you are improving. With a disciplined lifestyle, you can slowly take control of your pain more than the other way round.
You may rely on apps like Todoist or google tasks to plan your day, so that things go smoothly without any stress.
Refrain from Aggravating the Pain
As discussed previously, chronic pain can have many causes. You must understand the problem and treat it without compromise. Furthermore, refrain from doing anything that could aggravate the pain. It might not seem like a great deal at first to make the change, yet a practice could provide chronic pain relief slowly and dramatically.
Example: Smoking may not be the direct cause of pain, but it affects respiratory organs, slowing down the pace of other activities like sleeping and digestion. If you have an addiction, you must try harder to reduce it and ultimately let go of the habit.
Similarly, some people often have aerated drinks, which slow down bone strength and can cause obesity and diabetes. They lead to chronic pain in the legs, neck and back. Hence, if you stop taking carbonated drinks, it will benefit you in the long run.
Change Begins in your Mind
Our mind is our greatest ally, and any transformation, physical or psychological, begins in the mind. Hence, apart from doing everything you can for chronic pain relief, you must also believe that it will happen, sooner or later. That thought itself will attract ways to treat chronic pain conditions and enhance your wellness.
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