The frequency of body pain in adults is quite serious, with 7% of U.S. adults experiencing high-impact chronic pain and 20% having chronic pain, as per research published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Body pain and fatigue are common and may have many causes, like tendinitis, arthritis, muscle overuse, bursitis, fibromyalgia, and illness.
You can try different ways to relieve physical discomfort, including at-home, natural remedies, medicines, and procedures, or even combine them all for the best results. Read on to discover the seven most effective ways to alleviate body pain and unlock instant relief:
1. Try Mustard Oil Massage for Body Pain Relief
When the muscles get tensed up due to anxiety or stress, they spasm, and a mustard oil massage can be effective. Mustard seeds contain selenium, a mineral that helps to combat joint pain while also relaxing the muscles and reducing stress to eliminate the body ache cycle.
You can use mustard oil with a bit of salt to massage painful areas of the body and to release muscles that further alleviate cramping.
2. Indulge in Light Exercises
Though it sounds counter-intuitive, light exercises and stretching may be one of the quickest ways to alleviate body aches. Activities that can be especially beneficial to reduce different types of body aches include:
- Swimming and walking for knee and back pain relief.
- Shoulder rolls and arm exercises for shoulder pain.
- Visualization and deep breathing for relaxation.
- Low back and neck stretch to relieve stiffness and tension in the lower back and neck.
- Strengthening exercises to stabilize the joints and prevent future injuries.
3. Proper Nutrition Is the Key
Poor nutritional status, like unhealthy food habits, malnutrition, and suboptimal dietary intake, may aggravate body pain. The foods you consume directly determine your body’s ability to fight painful inflammation. So, cut out on bad inflammatory foods and adopt more good anti-inflammatory foods that help the immune system and reduce inflammation, resulting in body pain.
First, include tart cherry juice in your diet as it contains anthocyanins or a water-soluble pigment with anti-inflammatory properties. Drink coffee early in the day to avoid insomnia while reducing fatigue temporarily. Have eggs in your regular diet for their fatigue-busting protein, leucine, and healthy fat content that supports muscle recovery.
High in potassium and minerals, bananas can also alleviate fatigue and muscle weakness, major causes of body pain. Lastly, do not forget water, the main component of body muscle mass that helps to avoid muscle weakness and cramps.
4. Heat and Cold Therapy
Any heat therapy alleviates pain by opening constricted blood vessels that further reduce joint stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and other medical conditions. While heat wraps can soothe sore muscles and reduce acute and subacute low back pain, heating pads and hot water bottles effectively alleviate premenstrual syndrome pain when used on the abdomen.
Similarly, cold compression serves as a pain killer by slowing down the transfer of signals from the sensory nerves to further prevent pain transmission to the brain. Cold water or ice alleviates pain, swelling, and inflammation caused by injuries like muscle strains and sprains.
Applying ice on the onset of body pain can especially be useful in reducing sciatica, bursitis, and tendinitis-related pain.
5. Kratom Is Effective on Body Pain
Kratom, the herbal extract of leaves from the Mitragyna speciosa tree in Southeast Asia, is an effective treatment for muscle pain in its liquid or powder form. Besides helping with body pain, Kratom supplements can also be used to stop cramps, diarrhea, and panic attacks and to suppress the appetite.
Acting on opioid receptors, Kratom is a stimulant at low doses, making the users feel highly energetic, and at higher doses, it relieves pain and brings on euphoria. Classified as an atypical opioid, Kratom features the 7-hydroxy mitragynine alkaloid significantly more potent than codeine and morphine, the opioids recommended for pain relief.
Though the advantages of Kratom are undeniable, it is a good idea to consult a doctor before taking it. This can help you go with the right dosage, know how to administer Kratom safely, understand whether it’s suitable for you, and, most importantly, inquire about Kratom’s legal status in your area.
Do you stay in Canada? Is Kratom legal in Canada? The answer is yes because Kratom’s legal status in Canada states that it is not criminally prohibited and is legal for personal possession and use.
6. Breathe Right to Ease Body Pain
Guided meditation or a source offering suggestions on guiding your meditative thoughts can be one of the quickest and simplest ways to relax and ease body aches. When in severe pain, it’s normal to start taking rapid and shallow breaths that can make a person anxious, panicked, and dizzy.
Instead, try breathing deeply and slowly to feel more in control and prevent muscle anxiety or tension that can worsen your body pain.
7. Try the TENS Therapy
TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, involves passing low-voltage electrical currents through the skin via electrodes, resulting in a pain-relieving response from the body. People with body pain, unresponsive to other treatments may experience huge benefits from this therapy.
Besides this therapy, hyaluronic acid or steroid injections can relieve people not responding to topical or oral body pain medicines, like aspirin, paracetamol, and ibuprofen.
Conclusion
So, there you are! Though it is difficult to prevent body pain, a common occurrence with several underlying causes, some ways can help you alleviate the problem effectively. However, if your body pain becomes chronic or severe and you do not find any relief from the remedies mentioned above, consult a doctor.