According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one in five Americans suffer from chronic pain — equating to nearly 50 million U.S. adults. And if you’ve recently been diagnosed with a medical condition that results in chronic pain, certain techniques and exercises can help to manage your symptoms and keep your pain under control. These tips from the Spa Industry Association can help to make your life a whole lot easier, so keep reading!
Manage Chronic Pain Through Stress Relief
Stress and chronic pain often go hand-in-hand. By keeping your stress levels in check, you’ll better manage your chronic pain symptoms as well.
- Overcome the shock and stress of your new medical diagnosis through techniques such as mindfulness, therapy, and support from loved ones.
- Relax and control pain with deep breathing exercises, singing, meditation, and other activities that help to calm you.
- Get a massage, facial, or another spa treatment. Massages alleviate pain, muscle tension, and stress — while facials can help to boost circulation, reduce nasal congestion, and lessen pain caused by temporomandibular joint (TMJ) conditions.
- Check out Refin’s tips on clearing bad energy from your home, as doing so can help to alleviate stress and make your home a happier and more relaxed place to live.
- Make sure you’re getting plenty of quality sleep. Cannabidiol (CBD) can help with everything from treating chronic pain and anxiety to improving sleep quality.
Nutrition as an Anti-Inflammatory
Chronic inflammation in the body can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms, but an anti-inflammatory diet can help to reduce the severity of certain pain-causing medical conditions.
- Find out what Harvard Health Publishing has to say about the connection between diet and chronic pain.
- Work more anti-inflammatory foods into your diet, including berries, fatty fish, and broccoli.
- Try these yummy and handy meals from foods you have already stocked, such as skillet rice, empty-the-pantry stew, and spinach tortellini soup.
- Consider taking an anti-inflammatory supplement like fish oil, curcumin, green tea, and ginger.
Pain-Reducing Exercises and Yoga Poses
Certain exercises and yoga poses have been shown to relieve chronic pain and manage symptoms of pain-causing medical conditions.
- Learn all about the importance of physical fitness in managing chronic medical conditions.
- Manage chronic pain with exercises and movements like stretching, walking, yoga, pilates, weight lifting, water aerobics, and biking.
- Try pain-fighting yoga poses like the Restorative Child’s Pose, Twisted Figure Four, Warrior II, and Supine Twist.
- Follow along to Yoga with Adriene’s 25-minute class on Yoga for Chronic Pain.
Your pain-causing medical condition may affect many areas of your life, but these tips and resources will help to treat your symptoms and make life more bearable. From stress relief and nutrition to exercises and yoga poses, these pain management techniques can help you to look and feel better from the inside out.
Turn to the Spa Industry Association for more information and tips to help you lead a healthier and happier life.
