Chronic pain can develop after any kind of injury or some medical issues. It is a type of complex condition as its remedies and pain relief differ from person to person. Chronic pain usually lasts for around 6 months. But in some conditions, a person may face chronic pain for years. The pain function occurs through the nervous system. When the body hurts, injury enables the pain sensors in that area. Those sensors send messages in the form of signals. Those signals travel from nerve to nerve till the message reaches the brain. The brain processes those signals and tells the body that it is hurt. The signal stops when the pain is resolved. But when a person is dealing with chronic pain, the nerve signals continue sending signals even after complete healing.
Common causes of chronic pain
- Back problems
- Past injuries or surgeries
- Infections
- Nerve damage
- Fibromyalgia
- Arthritis, etc
Symptoms of chronic pain
In chronic pain, the pain intensity ranges from mild to severe. The pain continues for several months to years. It usually feels like:
- A dull ache
- Burning
- Squeezing
- Throbbing
- Stinging
- Soreness
- Stiffness
- Shooting, etc
Along with the pain, a person may face other symptoms such as mood changes, weakness, feeling tired, energy loss, etc. You need good chronic pain treatment Pennsylvania for managing your daily lifestyle. When a person is dealing with chronic pain, he may also face some mental symptoms like depression, anxiety, etc. Due to chronic pain, the person isn’t able to work properly.
Natural ways to manage chronic pain
Hot and cold therapy
For any kind of ache, hot and cold therapy can work better. For cold therapy, take a water bottle filled with water. You can also have a pad cooled in the fridge. Cold therapy manages pain by reducing blood flow to an injured area. It acts like local anesthesia and slows down pain signals. Using ice helps treat swollen and inflamed joints. Take a child pack and apply it to the inflamed area for about 20 minutes. Repeat this process after 4 to 6 hours. Heat therapy is helpful when you are facing chronic pain due to osteoarthritis or back injury. When you apply heat to the inflamed area, the blood flow increases, and the sore muscles get relaxed. For this therapy, you can use paraffin wax treatment, take hot baths, or can use heating pads.
Massage
For chronic pain management, you should do regular massages. Several oils are available to reduce chronic pain. You can use oils for massages. Regular massages provide relaxation, increase flexibility, and reduce inflammation. With massages, you can improve your posture and can perform your daily tasks easily. Massages are very helpful if you have lower back pain.
Acupuncture
In acupuncture, the practitioner inserts thin needles into the skin at precise points. It provides short-term relief for back pain, neck, knee, osteoarthritis, etc. In some cases, it may also provide long-term relief from pain. Acupuncture has certain benefits like better pain relief, relaxation, reduced inflammation, reduced muscle spasms, etc. But get acupuncture from trained practitioners only.
Yoga and meditation
Yoga is good for everything. A 30 minutes daily yoga session can be very helpful in managing your chronic pain. Certain Yoga poses can help in reducing the pain. It relaxes the body and makes it more flexible. With regular Yoga, you can get better control of your body. Meditation helps to manage daily tasks. When the body is in pain, the mind also gets upset. Due to this, every task looks more difficult. With meditation, the mind feels better and you can easily manage your daily tasks.
Use essential oils, cloves, or turmeric
Lots of people use essential oils as a pain reliever for hundreds of years. Lavender essential oil reduces pain, manages sleep, and reduces anxiety. Inhaling lavender oil provides a relief sensation. People use cloves to reduce toothache. But it is also a very good remedy for chronic pain. Apply clove oil to the pain area and massage it well. It provides a warm sensation and reduces pain. Another very common ingredient with good pain relief quality. You can make a paste and apply it to the affected area. Adding turmeric to your diet can also help in reducing inflammation and pain management.
Relaxation techniques
Sometimes, dealing with chronic pain becomes difficult. Due to pain, the person is unable to manage his emotions and feels very uncomfortable. With relaxation techniques, muscle tension, spasms, and pain will reduce. The body releases endorphins that act as a natural painkiller. It manages stress and relaxes the body and mind. Deep breathing techniques such as box breathing help in relieving the tension. In progressive muscle relaxation, you need to focus on your breathing and avoid muscle pain. For relaxation, you can also try reading a book or aromatherapy.