Do you need a pain reliever but are afraid of traditional forms of pain management?
Some proven ways to ease pain are:
1. Holding a baby. Interacting with babies naturally eases pain and has been linked to parents’ feelings of euphoria.
2. Touch between partners. When women in pain held their partners’ hands, their comfort levels dissipated, according to a study in Scientific Reports.
3. Breast-feeding. Nursing can decrease pain related to a C-section, according to research presented at this year’s Euroanaesthesia Congress.
4. Tuning in to your pain. Research suggests that mindfulness meditation can help relieve pain, whether it’s acute or chronic.
5. Focusing on your breath. “Returning focus back to the breath can be calming, can help center the individual, and can help engage their parasympathetic nervous system’s relaxation response.” 6. Zooming out. “We teach the person to extend the scope of their attention beyond the painful part of their body, to begin to notice other parts of their body that don’t hurt.”
7. Turmeric. The spice may act as an anti-inflammatory for managing pain.
8. Yoga and exercise. A 12 week yoga program soothed back pain just as much as physical therapy in a study in Annals of Internal Medicine.
9. A good night’s sleep. Getting seven hours of shut-eye each night is ideal when you’re dealing with aches and pains.
10. Music therapy. “Think of how you feel when your favorite song comes on. You have that surge of endorphins, it helps you feel better and soothe anxiety, and that’s why we can use music to help with pain.” Patients recovering from back surgery reported a decline in pain after receiving music therapy, which involves singing, rhythmic drumming, and live music.
