A healthy lifestyle is key to managing pain

We are living in incredible times. We can put in a full workday from the couch, get dinner and groceries delivered to our front door, and stream new movies to our living rooms, all without leaving the couch. Pretty great, right?  Ed Zhovtis, DNAP and Pain Management Provider at Black River Memorial Hospital, would disagree.

“As humans, we were designed to be moving, to be in motion, to be bending, and to be upright,” Ed says. This new normal is a serious issue from a pain management standpoint. Ed’s strongest advice regarding chronic pain is to stay active.

So, what can you do to help with pain? Ed says living a healthy lifestyle is essential.

Empower Yourself

When you wake up, take a few minutes to relax your brain, sit in a comfortable position, and breathe a little bit. Learning to meditate is helpful. Say something positive to yourself: “I will have a better day. My pain will not interfere with my daily activities. I will move 10 more steps than I did yesterday.”

Exposure to Sunshine

Instead of grabbing your phone first thing in the morning, get some sunlight on your face. Even if it’s cold outside, go to the window and get some UV rays. Numerous studies show it improves your mood.

A Cold Shower

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that delivers pleasure to the brain, and by turning the shower water as cold as you can tolerate for one to three minutes before getting out, you increase your dopamine level 2½ times what it would be otherwise. That’s more than you’d get from chocolate or doing something you love — and it lasts for hours because it’s a slow buildup and wind-down of dopamine.

Distraction Therapy

Applying heat, cold, or even gentle massaging to areas that hurt can help ease pain. The principle behind this is that you’re occupying the neural pathways with non-painful stimulus, preventing the pain signals from using them.

Exercise

Exercise is associated with the release of natural painkillers in the body called endorphins, which also help improve your mood. Any exercise will strengthen your muscles and improve your sleep, which is essential for a healthy life.

Sleep

“People often overlook that the best recovery medication is sleep. There is nothing better than sleep,” says Ed. And what helps people sleep better? Drinking less alcohol, not smoking, and losing weight — all factors that allow you to breathe better and live a healthier life.

Ed recognizes that some pains are persistent and would be best treated by medical professionals. “There is no ‘too soon’ to see a specialist. It is always better than too late.” To learn more about our pain clinic offerings, click HERE.