When you were young, injuries were typically no worse than a scrape, a cut or a graze. They could be fixed with a kiss from a parent, an ice cream or a piece of chocolate.
As you age, injuries become more common and tend to last longer. They can’t just be fixed with a sugary treat and you’ll find yourself seeking medical advice more frequently. Even in your 20s your more prone to long-term injury than you were as a child, with your body slowly aging and with the stresses and strains of life starting to take their toll. Through your 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond, it’s important to find ways to manage any pain.
Don’t want to use medication? You’re not alone. Many people are desperate not to take tablets regularly…but what are your alternatives?
Warming and Cooling Products
Muscle aches? Sports injuries? Headaches? Back pain? Instead of reaching for the paracetamol or for stronger pain killers, consider heating or cooling pads, ice packs or gels that can help to reduce pain and swelling.
Many heat packs and cooling products are reusable, which means that investing a small amount of money will provide you with long-lasting relief. Many products aren’t much more expensive than a pack of tablets, and you can choose to buy a pain relief product for a specific part of your body or one that’s for general use.
Massage Therapy Products
What could be more soothing than a relaxing pain relief massage? Physiotherapists and holistic therapists can charge a lot of money for professional treatments, but you can avoid those costs or supplement their work with massage therapy products that you can use at home.
Massage boots are great for the feet, whilst back massagers can be small in size and easy to carry around when you’re travelling. You can also buy massage cushions that can be fixed to chairs in your house or in the car, making sitting down more comfortable.
Aromatherapy
The experience of pain can be considered to be mental as well as physical. Some people choose aromatherapy for pain relief, helping them to gain better control of their emotions and feelings.
People are even turning to aromatherapy to battle some of the more significant pains that they’ll deal with over the course of their life, including the pain associated with giving birth. An increasing number of people believe that labour pains are a state of mind and not just a physical pain, and that they’re made worse by feeling fearful or out of control.
If you’re suffering from mild or severe pain, aromatherapy and the use of essential oils could help to calm you and to allow you to better focus on pain management.
Prevention: Better Than Cure
It wouldn’t be right to talk about natural pain management without addressing the old adage that ‘prevention is better than cure’. You can reduce the risk of injury by keeping active, warming up before exercise, focusing on good posture and knowing your limits. Be aware that your limits change as you age and don’t expect to behave at 50 as you did when you were 20!
You can also help your body by making purchases based on what your body is capable of, such as buying a high and supportive sofa instead of a soft and low one, and purchasing a higher car that is easier to get in and out of.
