Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong. Pain can appear suddenly or build slowly over time, ranging from mild and intermittent to severe and persistent. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that acute pain, left untreated, can lead to chronic pain.
At Dynamic Health, we focus on relieving acute and chronic pain as quickly as possible, stabilize your condition and minimize the likelihood of the return of the symptoms.
Our treatment protocols incorporate the combination of medical diagnostics, chiropractic spinal adjustments, physical therapy and medical rehabilitative treatment options. Below are some simple pain relief strategies to manage your pain symptoms and get back to living.
Stay Hydrated
According to the Mayo Clinic, dehydration can aggravate the symptoms of some pain conditions, like headaches and chronic back pain. Diuretic beverages like coffee, soda, tea, or fruit juice are poor sources for hydration. If you find yourself experiencing frequent headaches or body pain, try drinking more water – it keeps you hydrated without the extra calories, sodium, or caffeine.
Avoid Processed Foods
A diet free of processed foods can help alleviate inflammation, which leads to increased sensations of pain. Foods that may alleviate inflammation include leafy greens, foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, asparagus, low-sugar fruits (cherries, cranberries, plums, pineapple) and soy products.
Inflammation is a common cause of pain, and certain chemicals in foods may exacerbate it. Limit consumption of these inflammation instigators:
- Nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant)
- Dairy products
- Chocolate
- Eggs
- Citrus fruits
- High-fat red meat
- Wheat products
- Processed foods
- Red wine, coffee, tea, and soda
Exercise
Simple, everyday activities like walking, swimming and even yard work can ease the pain by blocking pain signals to the brain. Physical activity also helps stretch stiff and tense muscles, ligaments and joints, which can alleviate pain.
If you suffer from chronic pain, you may be hesitant to exercise because vigorous physical activity can be painful. The key is to become more active gradually as you’ll be less likely to cause any damage or harm. The pain you feel when you begin a gentle exercise regimen is the result of your muscles and joints getting fitter.
In the long term, benefits of exercise far outweigh any increase in pain. If you avoid exercise completely, the lack of physical activity could lead to other health problems like stiff joints, weight gain, heart disease and osteoporosis.
Sleep
Everyone seems to be busy all the time these days. Life has become increasingly more stressful and demanding, and it’s easy to burn the candle at both ends by sacrificing precious hours of sleep to accomplish other tasks.
It goes without saying that sleep is an important part of your health. It is restorative, both physiologically and psychologically. Sleep deprivation can worsen pain symptoms and even cause health problems such as weight gain, high blood pressure, and a decrease in the immune system’s ability to fight disease.
It’s necessary to stick to a regular sleep schedule. If at all possible, try to go to bed at the same time every night and get up at a set time in the morning. Avoid taking naps during the day as well. A steady sleep schedule will improve your chances of sleeping soundly through the night. A good night’s rest can alleviate aches and pains by allowing the body to heal.
By staying hydrated, avoiding processed foods and getting plenty of sleep and physical activity, you can manage and alleviate your pain symptoms. If making these lifestyle changes doesn’t eliminate the pains and aches you are experiencing, consider visiting one of our pain relief specialists at Dynamic Health as soon as possible.
We offer many effective forms of pain treatment available to relieve discomfort so that you can start living a healthy and active life again.
Dynamic Health provides a vast array of pain relief options for individuals in the greater Charlotte, North Carolina region who are experiencing acute and chronic pain. To learn more about our pain management treatments or to schedule an appointment with one of our qualified spine doctors, please call 704-525-6288.