5 Actions to Take to Alleviate Your Pain

If there’s one universal truth, it's that pain is unpleasant. Whether you’re struggling with an acute problem that’s causing a great deal of pain or you’re faced with chronic pain that plagues you on a daily basis, there are steps you can take to minimize the discomfort.

Your first step is to come see one of the pain management specialists at Commonwealth Pain and Spine. We offer a wide range of solutions, including medications and interventional procedures, that can provide meaningful and effective pain relief.

To tackle pain from all angles, however, there are actions you can take on your own that, when combined with our treatments, offer you the best chances for complete pain relief.

In the following, we review five such steps.

1. Relaxation through deep breathing and meditation

The pain you feel comes from your brain, so it makes sense that you do what you can to quiet your brain. Some of the most effective tools for relaxation, namely deep breathing and meditation, work to de-stress your body and help you find peace of mind.

When we say deep breathing, we mean just that — taking slow, deep breaths that fill your lungs to capacity and then exhaling the air completely. Repeating this not only allows your body to release tension and fully relax, the rhythm can help keep your mind from focusing on the pain.

When we refer to mediation, we’re referring to any practice that distracts your mind and relaxes your body. Some people prefer guided meditation while others prefer long walking meditations. There are many ways in which you can meditate, and we recommend clicking on this link to learn more.

2. Move as much as you can

If your condition allows, movement can be a great pain reliever. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are known as the “feel good” hormones. Again, you don’t want to push yourself and cause more pain, but even a slow walk can help your body fight pain.

3. Engage in the world around you

You might feel like you want to curl up in your bedroom and just ride the pain out, but engaging in the world around you can provide great distraction and pain relief. Pick up a book, or the phone, and get busy doing something that isn’t focused on your pain.

4. Swear (if you can)

Believe it or not, swearing in response to pain has been shown to improve pain tolerance. While you may want to pick and choose your moments wisely, uttering and repeating an expletive can create a different type of emotional arousal that takes the focus off of your pain.

5. Get a massage

When you’re in pain, your body jumps at anything that can make it feel good. Getting a massage when you’re in pain allows you to offset the pain with a pleasurable experience. Not to mention, massages are a great way to release muscle tension, which can exacerbate pain.

To learn about more ways to combat pain on your own, please make an appointment with one of our pain management experts at a location near you. We have offices in St. Matthews, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Crestview Hills, Owensboro, and London, Kentucky. Indiana offices are in Evansville, Vincennes, New Albany, Carrollton, and Jasper. We also serve patients in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.