A Guide to Pain Management for Improved Living

Pain can be due to various reasons. Acute pain is short-lived, for six months or less, and is sudden but sharp. It can be due to trauma, surgery, or injury. However, chronic pain lasts beyond this timeframe, typically for more than three months. Many individuals live with chronic pain for their entire lives, and this pain is something 1 in 5 people in Canada struggle with every day. For many people, chronic pain can not be treated, and the treatment brings many complications with it. Medication is also one effective way to go to get relief from pain. However, there are some other ways chronic pain along with acute pain can be managed effectively so it doesn’t become a severe hindrance in someone’s day-to-day life. In this blog, we’ll guide you on how you can manage acute and chronic pain. Keep reading for some tips by physiotherapists to help you deal with pain.

Follow a Home Exercise Program

When it comes to exercise, a lot of people back out from it because they believe exercise will make their pain worse. However, exercises like helping you maintain your physical fitness, and low-impact exercises like swimming, walking, or biking where you can stretch your muscles will improve your flexibility and help you feel more relaxed if you do it regularly. Exercise also improves mental health. You start feeling better and manage your stress better if you do aerobic exercises and strengthening exercises twice a week.

Managing the Stress

This is an important aspect of managing your pain. When you feel pain, stress hormones are released that can tighten up your muscles. This means that blood flow is now restricted in your body, and less oxygen is being transported along with fewer nutrients. This causes pain in the body. You can’t escape situations in life that will stress you out, but you can manage your stress by choosing to remain calm, focusing on what you can do to make things better, and taking charge of the situation rather than stressing yourself out.  

Use Food as Medicine

Inflammation is responsible for many types of chronic pain. When you consume a lot of sugar and processed carbs that include flour, you’re increasing pain due to inflammation in your body. If you want to avoid this kind of diet which is not only harmful but also high in calories, you have to start consuming foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients. Eat more vegetables and fruits. Start substituting red meat with fish and plant-based proteins like soy. Avoid simple carbs that are present in candies and cakes. Stay away from dairy products like eggs and milk and only consume healthy fats like salmon, olive oil, seeds, nuts, and avocados.

Modify Your Environment

Your lifestyle and your environment can have an impact on you. If you struggle with back pain amongst other chronic pain, you can reduce it if you do certain things. Avoid wearing shoes with high heels, especially for longer periods of time. Many people are now working from home, and that has led to them having a bad posture, which is responsible for more back pain. Change your workspace, get up and take a walk around when you have been sitting for too long, make sure your chair is comfortable, and use a pillow for your support. If you also have to drive for too long, make use of pillows. Your mattress also matters a lot, so make sure you have a good one. If you want to, use a pillow under your legs or back when sleeping.

Sleep is Important

The most obvious pain management tip is the most overlooked one often. Lack of sleep can worsen existing pain in a person’s body and release more stress hormones. It also lowers your pain tolerance, making you more receptive to pain. You can also suffer from other health issues if you don’t have a good sleeping routine. A good sleep routine includes avoiding any blue light coming from your TV or smartphones. You can also meditate as it will help you get a good sleep at night.

Book a Physiotherapy Session Online

When it comes to mild pain or chronic pain, physiotherapists are great and can help you with various types of pain, whether it’s because of an injury or any other reason. You can visit our Edmonton clinic. Our trained physiotherapists are available for any treatment, including manual therapy, vestibular therapy, shockwave therapy, acupuncture, and more. You can also book a physiotherapist appointment to know more about your condition and explore treatment options before selecting your mode of recovery. Schedule a meeting with a physical therapist in Edmonton today.