From couch potatoes to dedicated athletes, pain is something most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Even everyday activities such as picking up groceries, mowing the lawn or doing laundry can be agonizing. But with the dangers associated with many inflammatory drugs, it is important not to jump to quick fix solutions and to consider safer and natural options that can be used long-term without side effects. The following are some useful and healthy tips that you can implement to help alleviate long-term and short-term pain, as well as help to prevent it from occurring. Don’t wait until you’re in pain to try these recommendations, incorporate them into your lifestyle today!
Great Pain-Relieving Foods Ideas
• It’s important to drink plenty of filtered water each day as it will help keep your joints well-cushioned and properly hydrated.
• Try to limit or avoid foods like dairy products, red meat, refined sugars and starches (think white carbs), and salt, as they may worsen joint pain.
• Eating natural, whole foods, such as vegetables, fresh fruit, healthy fats and oils (such as olive oil, flax seed oil, and avocados), legumes, and fatty fish will help to prevent inflammation.
• Numerous supplements like fish oils, ginger and turmeric extracts are clinically proven to treat painful joints and reduce inflammation and stiffness.
• Vitamins A, C, D, E, B complex, and B 12 can decrease pain and joint inflammation and help to repair damaged cartilage, bone, and muscle tissue.
• Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and zinc help to strengthen cartilage tissue and prevent inflammation.
Get Exercising!
• Physical activities, such as walking, biking, and aerobic dancing have all been recommended to manage joint pain.
• Swimming and pool exercises can be a safer alternative as they generally cause less stress on your joints.
• If you are not a fan of the water, stationary cycling and yoga are great options as well.
• Be careful not to overdo things, otherwise you may cause additional damage to your joints.
• Try and shed those extra pounds. For every extra 10 pounds of weight you gain, you add an additional 40 pounds of pressure on your joints.
Other Easy-To-Do Suggestions
• Icing your joints with a cold compress is a good way to decrease swelling.
• Getting into a warm bath or sauna or using a heating pad will help your joints feel better, especially when pain is chronic, muscles are tight, and/or pain is worse in the cold.
• Using a topical ointment with menthol or capsaicin– a substance found in chili peppers– may help to relieve joint pain.
• Try to avoid long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, as they can cause serious health concerns if used long-term.
• Get acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture has a long history of reducing pain and treating injury, arthritis, and other tissue problems.
Finding a solution to pain can sometimes seem like an uphill battle, but relief is possible. Incorporating these natural pain relieving strategies into your lifestyle will certainly lead to you to the right side of the battle. Finding what works best for you and sticking to it is the best advice!
Give Active Life Mobile Acupuncture a call to learn how we can come to your workplace, retirement home, long-term care facility, or hospital to help you suffer less pain and get back to the activities you enjoy.