Restful Sleep
Getting good sleep is critical for reducing chronic pain, improving your energy, and your mood. Getting a full 8 hours of rest is key for the mind and body. After an injury, muscles tighten to reduce the risk of re-injury, and it can sometimes be difficult to relax those muscles once again. Sleeping gives your muscles a good 8 hours of rest and relaxation. Furthermore, sleep deprivation can make you more sensitive to pain. But good sleep doesn’t just help us physically, it also relaxes the mind, and helps us manage the everyday stress that’s associated with chronic pain.
Massage
Massaging is helpful and convenient. A good massage can reduce tension and pain by improving your blood flow and encouraging relaxation. And it’s convenient, because you always have your hands on you to give yourself a massage! If your hands get tired, you can also invest in a few simple tools including foam rollers and tennis balls.
Quit Smoking
Smoking can worsen painful circulation problems and increase risk of heart disease and cancer.
Heat Therapy
While cold therapy can be helpful for acute pain, it should be noted that heat therapy is better for chronic pain. Heat increases your blood supply and therefore blood flow. Heat also stimulates the release and elimination of toxins. Overall, heat relaxes soreness and stiffness from muscles. You can use heating pads and heating wraps to treat pain with heat.
Exercise
Walking is an excellent form of light aerobic exercise, which provides a list of healing benefits. It brings oxygen and nutrition to your muscles to keep them healthy, helps rebuild stamina, boosts energy, and reduces stiffness and pain.
Bath Time
Taking a bath is mentally and physically relaxing. As previously noted, heat therapy can be especially beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain – especially when it is moist heat. It can also relax your mind, just like a good night’s rest.