Consider home remedies before expensive prescription medication.
Pain is indication that something is wrong with your body, and it has a detrimental effect on your quality of life. Pain may be acute, meaning that it stems from a single, non-repeating incident; or it may be chronic, meaning that it returns again and again. Pain relief is essential. People react to different things in different ways, so find the pain relief methods that work for you and your situation.
Over the Counter Pain Medication
Over-the-counter pain medication is available at a small price from grocery stores and drug stores. They do not require a prescription and they lack the high prices of prescription drugs. While they are drugs that only work in the short-term, they offer immediate relief. Ibuprofen, marketed as Advil, Motrin and Nuprin, is excellent for short-term relief, but it is also linked to ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Acetaminophen, marketed as Tylenol, is similarly useful.
Massage
Massage is the process of rubbing and manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage should be performed by a trained professional, but it can be conducted at a spa or gym or in the home. Massage therapists use their hands, elbows and forearms to bring blood to the surface of the skin, improving circulation throughout the body. If you are interested in massage, choose a massage therapy that suits you. While some massages are gentle, others are intense and use a great deal of pressure.
Support While Sleeping
If you are suffering from muscle discomfort, you may wake up feeling tired and sore. This can be because your body was contorted into an uncomfortable position as you slept. To alleviate this problem, buy more pillows and sleep with them supporting your body. For example, sleep with a pillow between your knees or at your lower back. Hug a pillow as you sleep to alleviate pain through your chest and your shoulders.
Temperature Changes
For issues like sciatica, where swelling and inflammation are an issue, alternate hot and cold packs. Use an ice pack or a package of frozen food wrapped in a clean towel and hold it against the inflamed area a few times a day. Alternate it with hot pads, heating pads or a heat lamp to loosen up the muscles in the surrounding area. Do not put a heat pad directly against your bare skin.
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