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You are here: Home / Health / Natural Pain Relief

Natural Pain Relief

August 29, 2014

Natural Pain Relief

Living with chronic pain is no joke. I’ve suffered with various types of pain throughout my life: from debilitating migraines since I was a child to excruciating abdominal pain as a result of my Crohn’s condition, as well as head-to-toe total body/joint/muscle pain as a result of adverse reactions to medication. I’ve been incapacitated for weeks — and even months — at a time, so if you can find me some good pain relief (especially natural pain relief), I’m your new best friend.

Medication is rarely the best solution. Over-the-counter pain medication is only a temporary fix — that is, if it even helps in the first place — and often leads to undesirable side effects. In fact, I can no longer even touch aspirin or ibuprofen because of it’s probability of triggering stomach/intestinal bleeding (yes, this actually happens; it’s not just a legal disclaimer in the fine print). And acetaminophen is controversial because it can lead to liver damage (not to mention it doesn’t do a whole lot for me anyway). In more extreme cases, narcotic pain medication may be prescribed but let me tell you, in my experience: if I’m in a lot of pain, it might help “take the edge off,” but it certainly doesn’t take it away, not to mention it’s potentially addictive and dangerous if used incorrectly. So when I find something that provides pain relief the natural way, it’s like hitting the feel-good jackpot. Here are a few natural pain remedies that have helped me along the way:

 

Best Methods of Natural Pain Relief

 

1. Anti-Inflammatory Diet

For me, pain is usually directly associated with some sort of inflammation, and I’ve found that diet has been the most effective way to manage it. Eliminating foods that can trigger inflammation in the body has completely changed (and literally, saved) my life. For me, it means cutting out all wheat/gluten, most grains and even legumes (yep, legumes can cause inflammation). Sugar is also a huge culprit, which means no refined sugar and even natural sugars in moderation. And although I haven’t cut out nuts, it’s important to know that nuts can cause inflammation, especially if eaten in large amounts, so I choose to keep my nut consumption to small, snack-sized portions. Everybody’s different, so others may find that they have a reaction, intolerance or allergy to other food groups, such as dairy or eggs. Instead of consuming the foods that are a trigger for me, I try to eat a nutrient dense diet rich in vegetables, naturally/ethically-raised animal proteins and other healthy fats, along with fruit and nuts in moderation. It took many years of trial and error, but I’m finally finding a true connection between what I eat and how I feel. If you struggle with chronic pain related to inflammation, I highly recommend figuring out if certain foods are causing – or at least exacerbating – your symptoms. Trying an elimination diet and/or working with a holistic nutritionist (especially if the concept is new to you or if you have a serious health condition) may be helpful.

 

2. Essential Oils

This blend of essential oils called PastTense from doTERRA has been a life-saver for me. My headaches often stem from tension, knots and pain in my neck and shoulders, and this essential oil blend provides almost instant relief. I used to use one of those over-the-counter drugstore rubs, but those are filled with chemicals and undesirable ingredients (not to mention, they’re kind of stinky). PastTense provides even more potent relief and is pure and totally natural, using a fragrant blend of essential oils which includes wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense and roman chamomile (among many others). Plus it’s a roll-on bottle, so there’s no messy application. I love the fact that I can quickly roll on a little bit over my neck and shoulders and almost instantly feel my muscles relaaaax. My mom is also in love with doTERRA’s Deep Blue Rub, which she uses topically for all sorts of aches and pains, including joint and muscle discomfort (it also comes in a roll-on version). For questions and further info about these products (or any other essential oils), you can contact a really great doTerra rep here.

 

3. Fish Oil/Supplements

Fish oil is known for being a natural pain reliever and an important part of a balanced, anti-inflammatory diet. It’s especially effective for joint and arthritis pain (but as you probably know, it has tons of other health benefits, such as promoting healthy skin and a healthy heart). As I’ve shared before, I especially like Carlsen’s Norwegian Cod Liver Oil because I get my omega-3’s and vitamin D all-in-one. Meanwhile, there are lots supplements that have been recommended specifically for migraine pain, including vitamins B2, magnesium and even herbs like feverfew, but always remember to check with a holistic nutritionist and/or medical practitioner before adding supplementation to your diet, especially if you have a health condition.

 

4. Drinking Plenty of Water

This one may be a no-brainer, but I know I’m not alone when I say that sometimes I simply forget to drink enough water throughout the day. And it’s almost a guarantee: when I don’t drink enough water, I’m likely to develop a headache or migraine. Dehydration also means all the other aches and pains in my body become far more prevalent. Just be sure to consume properly filtered, purified, and remineralized water.

 

5. Exercise

Again, this is another no-brainer. But even so, I have to often remind myself of this one. Of course, anyone who’s suffered a full-blown migraine knows that just about the only thing you can do at that point is lie still in a dark room (because let’s face it: any intense movement at this point will probably end up with you driving the porcelain bus). So the key here is really prevention, or at the very least, start your exercise at the onset of your pain (before it gets full-blown). Sure, for many of us with autoimmune disorders, we have to be careful not to overdo it (intense exercise will often exacerbate autoimmune symptoms), but mild to moderate exercise is important. So whether it’s strengthening my core to prevent back pain, weight resistance to build my rotator cuffs for headache prevention, or simply getting in some mild cardio, I often have to remind myself: if it starts to hurt, simply move. A little goes a long way.

 

These are the natural pain relief methods that help me. What natural pain relieving tricks do you use?

 

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Comments

  1. Janine Sabin says

    August 31, 2014 at 6:51 am

    So proud of you! I know you will inspire and lead others to wellness too. Glad doTERRA has been helpful in easing pain. Much love & healing! Janine

    Reply
  2. Lori says

    September 2, 2014 at 4:37 am

    Thanks, Janine!

    Reply
  3. Natural Pain Killers says

    September 11, 2014 at 6:25 am

    Great to know about these natural and simple pain relief remedies.

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Lori! Join me on my journey to healing, as I share delicious Paleo recipes, wellness tips, healthy beauty advice, and other inspirational lifestyle musings. A healthy life is a happy life! Read More…

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#invisibledisabilitiesweek : This is me about thre #invisibledisabilitiesweek : This is me about three years ago at at a family party (here with my Auntie Agnes 💕). I woke up that morning and got ready, put on some makeup and had some color in my cheeks, went to the party and pretended everything was just fine. What nobody knew that day was that I was so weak and sick, I was secretly holding myself up by leaning on tables and chairs, so I could stand up and try to hold a normal conversation. The rest of the time, I found excuses to sit down and hoped that no one would notice how lousy I felt. My body had started experiencing a new Crohn’s flare, and I would end up in the hospital just a few days later. Just a few weeks after that, I’d end up in surgery and would get my ileostomy because we’d run out of options, and it was my only hope for survival (second pic was taken two days after surgery).
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But on this day, nobody knew. I looked perfectly “normal.” This is how it is with invisible illness and invisible disability. In fact, every day is like this when living with chronic illness - experiencing ongoing symptoms of pain, weakness, and malaise that no one else can see.
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We don’t share these stories because we are looking for pity or sympathy. We share for the purpose of awareness, to help others understand why that person who “looks fine” may need extra accommodations, medications, a disabled placard, or simply extra time to accomplish everyday tasks.
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I still get self conscious when parking in a disabled spot, no matter how awful I might be feeling in that moment, for fear of judgement from those who can’t see my symptoms. 🙈 Please remember that we have no idea what someone else is going through simply by looking at them. Please remember to be kind!
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It’s Invisible Disabilities Week, so I’ll be sharing more in my stories! 
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#invisibledisabilityawareness  #invisibledisability #crohns #crohnscolitis #ibd #ostomy #ileostomy #ostomate #nocolonstillrollin #stomalife 
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Happy Ostomy Awareness Day! As always, I’m very Happy Ostomy Awareness Day! As always, I’m very grateful for this amazing little medical device which gave me a chance at life again. 🙏🏻

“On the other side of a storm is the strength that comes from having navigated through it. Raise your sail and begin.” ― Gregory S. Williams

#OstomyDay2020 #OstomyAwarenessDay #ostomyawarenessday2020 #worldostomyday #OstomiesAreLifesavers #crohns #crohnscolitis #ibd #ostomy #ileostomy #ostomate #nocolonstillrollin #stomalife #babeswithbags #chronicillness #invisibleillness #spoonie #spooniewarrior #spoonielife #chronicillnesswarrior #invisibledisability #autoimmunedisease #autoimmune #autoimmunewarrior #chronicillnessawareness
I have removed my original Blackout Tuesday post i I have removed my original Blackout Tuesday post in order to avoid confusion and not hinder the BLM movement. To clarify, I’ll be continuing to mute my personal posts and will post only to #amplifymelanatedvoices. .
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Photo/graphic from @unitedwedream.
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More info in stories. 🖤
Many ways to show our support, even from those of Many ways to show our support, even from those of us who are mostly housebound or living with chronic illness. More in stories. .
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2nd photo/graphic from @mireillecharper. 🙏🏻
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For more information, including info on where to donate, click on my LINK IN BIO. More helpful sources are also tagged in photo #2.
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The recipe for these Paleo Carrot Muffins can found at my #linkinbio or directly at http://adventuresofasickchick.com/paleo-carrot-muffins/.
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Hello friends! It’s been a while since I’ve po Hello friends! It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and I think it’s because I’ve been battling a lot of anxiety lately. While self-isolation is nothing new for me (thanks, Crohn’s! 👍😂), there’s the new added stress of being in the “high-risk” category and trying to avoid exposure to the virus, all while scrambling to find my regular necessities, food and medical supplies during this time (not just for myself but for my other high-risk family members). My symptoms are exacerbated with stress, and the last thing I want is to end up in the hospital and take up a bed that someone else will need. Meanwhile, for some reason, I’ve been more busy than ever (oh, how I long to be one of those bored people who make and post TikTok videos all day 😩).
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But whenever I’m starting to feel overwhelmed, I’m able to gain some perspective when I think about all the healthcare workers and on the front lines, as well as all the essential workers (first responders, and grocery store workers, delivery workers, etc.) who are working feverishly to keep us all safe, healthy, and functioning as normally as possible. My thanks goes out to all of you in those categories, and well as to my friends and family who have offered us help with shopping and groceries during this time.
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