Chronic pain is no joke and it’s one of the most common reasons people miss work. It can also impact other aspects of your life including your sleep, it can cause you to gain weight, have more stress, and to lead a sedentary lifestyle. If you’re looking for ways to ease pain, here are five medication-free strategies. Of course, we suggest seeing a doctor if your pain becomes unbearable.
Yoga and Tai Chi
These mindfulness movements can not only relieve pain, but they also work with the stress related to the pain. Yoga and tai chi have been shown to lower the pain intensity and pain-related disability.
You may be surprised that job satisfaction has been linked to lower pain. Those who feel less in control of their jobs and don’t have social support at work experience more pain.
Acupuncture
Some studies have shown that acupuncture has been shown as an effective way to treat chronic pain and that it’s a great long-term treatment.
Foods like highly processed foods, sugar, and sweetened drinks cause inflammation which increases the pain response. Nuts, tart cherries, dark leafy greens, turmeric, ginger, and fatty fish can lower inflammation.
Although you probably don’t want to hear it, excess weight, especially around your midsection can cause strain on your back muscles, spine, and joints. Pain throughout the body has also been linked to excess weight. The good news is, just a few pounds of weight loss can make a huge difference when it comes to pain.
