Pain, especially chronic pain, can get in the way of life sometimes. Your quality of life might take a hit, and this might stop you from participating in activities you once enjoyed. Additionally, there could be negative impacts on your physical and mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and other conditions.
Some pain killers even have risks if used long-term. This can negatively impact an individual’s health even further, with the development of heart, kidney, liver and stomach issues. It is encouraged to avoid taking over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for more than ten days without advice from a healthcare expert as this can increase the risk of side effects.
If you require long-term pain management, alternatives should be sought after to avoid the development of side effects from pain killers. This post has outlined three of the most effective pain relief methods.
Physical Therapy
An individual’s flexibility, mobility, and strength can be improved through physical therapy, and this can help to relieve pain. It is used successfully for chronic pain as well as injuries. A physical therapist will search for the source of your pain as well as areas of stiffness or weakness that could be contributing to the pain. All areas will be treated to minimize the pain.
Physical therapy can be challenging as it uses the parts of the body that have been injured or experience chronic pain. Massaging and stretching, although they might sound easy, can cause the body to ache after a session. It is important to follow the physical therapist’s instructions as they will set out a plan to best treat your pain. They will consider your body type, alignment, daily activities, and habits to ensure the plan is effective.
Cannabis
There are certain types of pain, such as that caused by inflammation or nerve damage, could be treated by using cannabis. This will depend on the strain of cannabis that is used, as found by this study. It was found that participants preferred the use of C. indica for pain management, sedation, and sleep. Some of the conditions that this strain helped in this study included glaucoma, headaches, join pain, and seizures.
However, if the use of cannabis is your preference for pain relief, you must ensure you obtain a high-quality product. It is critical to find a cannabis dispensary, like NYCBUD in Roosevelt Island, NY, that offers safe and legal products developed for pain management.
Heat/Ice Application
Both heat and ice can be useful when suffering from pain, but it is understanding when to use hot and when to use cold that can be tough. There are some instances when both will be necessary, but a general rule of thumb to follow is ice should be use for acute injuries, inflammation, and swelling, while is for muscle pain and stiffness. The latter is due to the improved blood flow that occurs when heat is applied.
Various methods can be used with this treatment. There are heated pads or saunas for dry heat and hot baths and steamed towels for moist heat. If cold therapy is necessary, this can be applied through coolant sprays, ice baths, ice massages, and even ice or frozen gel packs. If you require further advice on when to use these treatments, see this article from Healthline.
Final Words
To conclude, there are numerous methods to use for pain relief if you would prefer to avoid OTC pain medication. Three of the most effective treatments are the use of physical therapy, cannabis, and heat and/or ice application, as outlined by this post.
