Six Tips for Reducing Chronic Pain so That You Can Live Your Life

Recently, one of my clients had to have hip replacement surgery. She’s feeling a world better now, but before her surgery she dealt with daily pain. Eager to help her find ways to better manage the chronic pain, we did some research together on how to reduce the pain to more tolerable levels. So that she could live her daily life.

Now, most people suffer from pain at some time in their life. And pain can be a nightmare to deal with. There is some good news though. There are a few things that we can do in order to reduce pain and keep our bodies healthy.

Here’s six ways to better manage pain and improve your quality of life.

One – Get Enough Sleep

Disturbances in sleep are fairly common among people who have chronic pain. Not getting enough sleep has been shown to make pain and inflammation worse. It’s a good idea to invest in a decent mattress as your comfort plays a big role in how much sleep you get. You should also try out different sleeping positions to find one that is the most comfortable for you. Follow these tips for sleeping positions:

Back sleepers – place a pillow under your spine and one under your knees as this will help keep the natural curve in your spine.
Stomach sleepers – place a pillow under your pelvis
Side sleepers – place a pillow between your knees

These tips have been shown to reduce the amount of pain a person is in whether it’s chronic or occasional.

Two – Don’t Rest Too Much if You Have Chronic Pain

Most people believe that resting will help you get better – this isn’t always the case. Resting too much can actually make the pain worse and reduce your muscle strength. It’s a good idea to follow a simple exercise routine. Once you are used to the simple exercises, experiment with some others to see what your body can take.

Three – Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight can put extra pressure on your joints. It has been shown that when most people lose weight and maintain it, their pain is decreased. While I know this can be easier said than done, it’s one of the best ways of reducing chronic pain.

Four – Look After Your Body

If you’re struggling to reduce your pain, then it might be a good idea to get your pain checked by a professional. There are lots of people willing to help you including physical therapists, osteopathists, body therapists, general practitioners and chiropractors. Visiting a chiropractor is a brilliant choice for anyone who has a bad back. The majority of people who are in chronic pain suffer from a bad back.

It will be easy to find someone near to you, just do a quick search online or in your local directory to see who’s available. Illinois based residents for instance will find that the Aurora clinic De La Cruz Chiropractic are one of the most recommended in the area. This chiropractic clinic can help ease your back pain or help give you advice on how you can reduce and manage the pain. These chiropractors build a specific plan to meet your needs, conditions and goals, and are brilliant at reducing or even get rid of the pain you’re in.

Five – Yoga is a Great Option for Managing Chronic Pain

You don’t have to be a professional to practice yoga. There are plenty of simple yoga ideas online to get you started. Yoga is not only relaxing; it can also help reduce the amount of pain you’re suffering from if done correctly. Yoga works by helping to reduce tight muscles, improve your breathing, build up your strength, and increase the range of motion you can do. Yoga also helps to relax your mind, meaning that it’s the perfect exercise to undertake before going to bed at night.

Six – Heat and Cold Therapy

Different people prefer different things; some people prefer placing cold packs on their aching body, while others prefer heat packs. Try both types to find one that is right for you. Cold therapy has been shown to work better if inflammation is present, as it works to reduce the amount of swelling. Heat therapy, on the other hand, is brilliant at reducing tension, muscle spasms, and cramp.

There are lots of things you can do to try and help reduce the amount of chronic pain you’re suffering from. Remember, everyone’s different, so you need to find what suits you and your body the best. Once your pain is limited, you’ll be able to start enjoying your life the way you really want to.