Pain is the number one reason why people go to their doctor. If over-the-counter painkillers don’t work, typically we go get a prescription for a stronger painkiller.
Lately there has been much fanfare in the news about oxycontin, fentanyl, and other painkillers that lead to addiction, often after dental work. We now know that these prescription painkillers are dangerous because it’s easy to overdose on them. They’re also the reason why cannabis is touted as a viable option that’s much safer.
There are many things you can do to manage pain before swallowing a painkiller or even taking cannabis.
- Stop eating foods that cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation is the main cause of pain for many people. Changing your diet to an anti-inflammatory diet can be enough to at least reduce, if not eliminate, your pain.
- Reducing stress will help you manage your pain better. High stress makes any kind of pain worse. Try deep breathing, meditation, massage, listening to music, or any other activity that helps you relax will also reduce your pain levels.
- Maintain a positive attitude. Dwelling on your pain will only make it worse. Seek support or counselling if you need help in this area.
- Exercise releases endorphins, which are your body’s natural painkillers. It seems counterintuitive to move when pain hampers movement, but do it anyway. It’ll improve your strength and balance as well as your circulation, which will bring nutrients and healing to your injured areas.
- Acupuncture is effective for many conditions, but it is now recognized in Western medicine as being effective for pain management. There are many randomized controlled trials demonstrating its effectiveness for pain. Many conventional medical clinics now offer it as a treatment option for their patients.
You don’t have to let pain or prescription painkillers control your life. Contact me for more information.
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