Chronic pain (incessant pain lasting weeks or longer) is often a sign of a more serious condition such as osteoarthritis, injury, or any of several potential forms of degenerative disease.
Here at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management in Oklahoma City, we’ve seen just how severe these conditions can get without disciplined at-home maintenance.
Although personal pain management cannot replace the aid of a medical professional, it is important to implement certain practices into your daily routine to remain in control of your condition. If you’re looking for ways to improve your everyday feelings of health and well-being, we’ve put together this list of simple lifestyle adjustments for the improvement of chronic pain symptoms.
Light Exercise
Adding light to moderate physical activity to your daily routine is a great way to boost your immune system and slow the progression of chronic pain conditions. However, it’s important to not overdo it; intense workouts have the potential to increase the level of stress hormones rather than enhance the immune system.
Some excellent workouts for chronic pain relief include:
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Cycling with a stationary bike
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Light dumbbell curls
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20-30 minutes of leisurely walking
Yoga & Stretching
Regular stretching is essential for long-term pain relief because it fortifies the muscles against future injury while improving whole-body circulation. It also releases tension from deep within the joints and muscular tissue, resulting in a greater range of motion.
Elements of meditation, rhythmic breathing, and stretching movements have the potential to strengthen the body and release tension. According to Harvard Medical School, one yoga session per week increases mobility more than traditional standard medical care. The practice of yoga has also been shown to be an effective form of therapy for reducing chronic lower back pain.
We recommend trying out these yoga/stretching poses to keep pain at bay:
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Standing Side Stretch: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Stretch your arms far above the head and clasp your right wrist with your left hand. Bend sideways to the left, tucking in your lower ribs as you inhale to maximize the stretch. Hold the position for three breaths, then switch sides.
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Legs Up the Wall: Start from a seated position, with your right shoulder and hip a few inches away from the wall. Drop your left shoulder to the floor and swing your legs upward to rest vertically on the wall while lying flat on your back. Maintain this position for at least ten long breaths.
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Butterfly Pose: This pose is great for stretching out the knees and hips. Simply sit with your back straight and the soles of your feet joined, with your knees pointing outward. Place a pillow or blanket under the knees for cushioning if needed.
High-Protein Diet
Consuming a greater amount of protein is generally a wise strategy for reducing chronic pain symptoms. Not only does protein contain essential amino acids, but there are significant anti-inflammatory and joint-strengthening properties within protein-rich foods.
Protein also encourages the bodily production of glucagon, a substance created by the liver that keeps insulin levels steady while preventing the storage of extra glucose as fat. As a result, pain flare-ups due to hypoglycemia become much less common.
Additionally, a high-protein diet may also increase the body’s proline levels. Proline is essential for the construction of collagen, which in turn helps develop healthier muscle cartilage and intervertebral (spinal) discs.
Are Home Remedies Enough to Overcome Chronic Pain?
These simple pain management methods have the potential to greatly reduce pain, but they should not be considered a replacement for medical help. Many chronic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, for instance, have no known cure. Lifestyle adjustments, like diet and exercise, are rarely enough to fully eradicate chronic pain syndromes.
Your pain management specialists at Oklahoma Spine & Pain Management in OKC are here to help. As a board-certified Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, Dr. Darryl D. Robinson has been using state-of-the-art treatments to help patients overcome chronic pain for nearly two decades. Dr. Robinson and his team of medical experts are specially trained to harness the body’s natural healing properties to provide effective pain relief without surgery.
These treatments utilize the body’s natural healing elements to repair damaged tissue and restore range of motion without the need for surgery. Experience renewed wellness and mobility for months!
Put chronic pain in the past.
Call 405-703-4950 today to schedule your evaluation.
