Sheryl Kraft

freelance health writer

Natural Remedies for Pain Management

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When you experience pain, do you:

Ouch. Gotta get the kinks out. Credit: Shutterstock.com
Ouch. Gotta get the kinks out.
Credit: Shutterstock.com
  1. Become anxious and depressed
  2. Pop a painkiller
  3. Lose sleep
  4. Call in sick
  5. Book a massage
  6. Do nothing, live with it, and suffer in silence
  7. All of the above

There’s really no simple answer to this question, since there are many dynamics – like the type of pain, your background and personality and family and social environments – that can determine what your treatment plan will be, says the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Advancing Pain Research, Care and Education.

After all, chronic pain is a tenacious problem that will not go away anytime soon, and has implications beyond the source of the pain.

Chronic pain becomes more common as we age, and that’s partly due to health problems like osteoarthritis that become more persistent with the advancing years. It’s no surprise that a national survey finds low-back pain and osteoarthritis to be the most frequent chronic pain conditions older Americans suffer. That’s not to say there are not other conditions that can cause pain as well, like rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia. In addition, chronic pain can be caused by an underlying disease or health condition, an injury, a medical treatment like surgery, inflammation or a tricky nervous system (known as “neuropathic pain”). And sometimes, there’s no explanation at all.

And how should we go about treating chronic pain once it has been diagnosed? Firstly, there is traditional medicine and physiotherapy. Alternatively, marijuana seems to be a solution that everyone is talking about. From candy edibles, to dabbing using a shatter like this 91 supreme, there are lots of ways for people to use cannabis beyond smoking that it can often seem like a viable option, depending on the person involved’s age and location of course. It’s just so hard to know where to begin, but with this being said, there are options to check out sites like every day optimal cbd, in the hopes of finding cbd related products that could help manage the pain a lot better than before. Be sure to do some research beforehand.

Additionally, going to your local dispensary (ohio dispensary locations) may be a good first step as they can offer advice on what will work best to alleviate any pain you’re experiencing. Check the laws in your state as it might be one of the states that have legalised the use of medical marijuana; you can then start checking your eligibility for a Medical Marijuana card.

But let’s not fall into the trap of feeling depressed, hopeless or despondent.

Here’s some relatively good news for the 100 million adults in the U.S. who suffer from chronic pain: A recent study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) acknowledges that there are some pain management alternatives to popping a pill or throwing up your hands in despair.

There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that several alternative approaches – like spinal manipulation, acupuncture and yoga can effectively manage some painful conditions.

And there’s one more – one of my all-time favorites, which dates back thousands of years: Massage. The evidence for massage as a way to manage pain is mounting.

One study, published in the Annals of Family Medicine found that multiple 60-minute massages each week helped people with chronic neck pain more than fewer or shorter sessions did.

Another study by researchers at various universities found that massage therapy helped reduce pain and improve function in people with low-back pain faster than usual medical care did.

And yet another study has suggested that massage therapy is effective for reducing pain in cancer patients (at least, for the short-term).

Let’s hear it for massage!

  • It relieves muscle tension by enhancing blood flow, which helps muscles relax.
  • It decreases inflammation by activating genes that naturally reduce swelling.
  • It reduces pain intensity by diminishing bodily substances that create and prolong pain.
  • It improves recovery by stimulating mitochondria, the “energy packs” that drive cellular function and repair.

I know what you’re going to say: How many of us have the time/money/energy to “indulge” in massages? In my dreams, I have a master masseuse visit me at home at the end of each long, tough week. Presto, change-o: My sore muscles, stiff back and tension float away with their magic touch.

But reality enters and tells me to…dream on.

The solution? An all-natural, do-it-yourself massage; no expensive appointments required.

Take a tennis ball, foam roller, or use your own (or a willing partner’s) hands, and massage tight or painful muscles to work out your trouble spots.

Or, purchase one of the many handheld massagers that are on the market. Wahl makes a variety of massagers that are easy to use, large enough to alleviate discomfort in major muscle groups, while being small enough to hold right in your hand.

Wahl's Deep Tissue Massager
Wahl’s Deep Tissue Massager

Take their Deep Tissue Percussion Massager; one of the many they offer. It’s one of the most powerful handheld massagers on the market. Through a combination of interchangeable heads and variable intensity controls, it zeros in on muscle pain that hides out deep below the surface.

True story: My son, a marathon runner and avid athlete, came to visit last night. When he complained that he went a bit overboard on lifting weights the day before, I brought out my massager. At first, he looked at me skeptically. But as soon as I stood behind him and gently began massaging his sore muscles, he was dumbstruck. I handed it off to him, and he quickly got lost in alleviating all the other parts of his body that he had also overworked in his passion to stay in shape.

After all these years, it felt good to still be able to soothe my (now-grown) child’s aches and pains.

But I can tell you this: He’s not going home with my massager.

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Comments

  1. Lisa Froman says

    Perfect timing for this. I am dealing with neuropathic pain right now. It is pretty much 24 /7 and is wearing me down. I have a test scheduled tomorrow to help assess the problem. I might consider acupuncture if I can’t get relief soon. And yes, a massage sounds great.

    • SherylK says

      Oh, no, Lisa, I’m sorry to hear about your pain. I’ve had nerve pain and it does wear you down…I know how hard it is, unfortunately. Hoping you get to the root cause and are able to find relief.

  4. Tom Sightings says

    Massage is truly a magic word! A massage feels really good; however, I start getting antsy after about 15 minutes (as opposed to B who can get an hour massage and still want more). Personally, for my back and neck pain, I rely more on stretching exercises. They feel almost as good as a massage, and the effects last longer.

    • SherylK says

      Stretching is good – it’s free and you can take it anywhere – good thing you are able to get relief from your pain this way…but I’m with B.

  5. Eric says

    I would love to have a massage anytime. I recently read about a hot stone massage. I’d like to try it out someday.

  6. Dolph Hoover says

    Great article! But, would you mind if I ask what are specific types of ointment or oils which can relieve pain in the shortest period of time? My hands are hurting for 2 weeks straight now just because I started lifting a heavy guitar case for my Uncle’s crew during their wedding.

  7. Maria says

    I could not agree more! I struggled (and complained) for weeks about neck pain that I developed in my office job. A friend recommended an acupuncturist and it actually worked. I wasn’t particularly hopeful being going in, but was ready to give it a try anyway and since then I have been for many regular sessions. The scientific evidence is correct!

  8. Sarah Anderson says

    I have always heard about how well massages can help your back pains. It’s probably way past time that I should try it out. Relieving my back pain for more than a couple hours would be really nice.

  9. Laura Cannone says

    Very nice blog. Very interested. So much of knowledge given about how we can take care of our body instead taking medications. Very informative blog. keep sharing such information they are really needed and useful.

  10. JerryE.Lindsay says

    Wow..
    What a lovely post.I feel massage is a great way to get rid of back pain. Being a part of corporate world, back pain is a common problem due to sitting posture. Even stretching exercise is a convenient and preferred option for myself. Your blog is full of vital information as to how one can get rid of body pain without consuming medication.
    Regards;
    JerryE.Lindsay

    • SherylK says

      Thanks for writing, Jerry, and glad to know you are able to incorporate stretching into your routine – it really helps, doesn’t it?

  11. Christina says

    Your claims that chronic pain tends to increase in people as they age are valid. Your “60 minute massage session” tip will likely help readers looking for the most beneficial solutions for their pain.

  12. Bobby Johnson says

    Hi Sheryl, I have suffered neck and back pain multiple times, and I discovered that most common causes of neck pain include: Too much time hunched over…for example hunched over a steering wheel or your laptop or your smartphone which is very common today; Sleeping in a position that causes strain in the neck such as sleeping on a pillow that is too firm or too high; Carrying a heavy object like a suitcase on one side of your body; Any trauma that causes a strain in the neck such as falling and landing on the top of the head. However, simple remedies at home like applying ice packs, use of epsom salt and apple cider vinegar or even a nice massage over a hot shower can help to alleviate the pain.

  16. Benny Smith says

    Well the facts you mentioned in the beginning of the article, i do most of the things from them. Your remedies seems good, hope it might work for me . And thanks for sharing the article.

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