Did you know that nearly 53% of seniors experience persistent pain?

There's no doubt that managing pain becomes more important as you get older. However, pain management is an important topic for younger adults too. An estimated 20% of the US population — that's 50 million people — are living with chronic pain.

Back pain, hip pain, and joint pain are miserable no matter how old (or young) you are. Whether you're a senior struggling with daily pain or you're middle-aged and trying to prevent a chronic condition, help is available.

In this post, we'll share five proven ways to better manage your pain and improve your quality of life. We'll also introduce you to some pain management solutions you may not have considered before. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Stay as Active as Possible

Our bodies were designed to move. Unfortunately, though, today's busy but sedentary lifestyle wreaks havoc on our muscles and joints. Over time, this can lead to neck pain, back discomfort, and other chronic issues.

In other cases, arthritis pain or old injuries may prevent you from being as active as you used to be. You may also hesitate to try even gentle exercises, fearing you'll do more harm than good.

However, the more sedentary you become, the worse your pain is likely to become. In addition to the primary problem, your pain will worsen due to muscular tension and joint discomfort.

The solution? Even if your mobility is limited due to age or injury, find some gentle exercises and activities you enjoy. This might include:

• Walking
• Swimming
• Gardening
• Chair yoga
• Dancing
• Water aerobics
• Tai chi

Not sure where to start? Talk to your doctor or a pain management specialist about appropriate exercises for your age and physical condition.

2. Adopt an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Did you know that the foods you eat can actually worsen your pain? Sugar, refined carbs, and processed meat are just a few examples of foods that cause inflammation inside the body.

To help your body heal from the inside out, you need to fuel it with foods that fight pain and inflammation. This includes:

• Berries and citrus fruits
• Olive oil
• Tomatoes
• Leafy green vegetables
• Nuts
• Whole grains
• Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, etc.)

These healthful foods don't just help with managing pain and inflammation. They're also great for your heart health, digestion, and weight management.

3. Find Natural Ways to Ease Stress & Anxiety

Negative feelings from anxiety, stress, and depression can increase your body's sensitivity to pain. To combat this vicious cycle, you need to find healthy ways to reduce your stress and boost your mental health.

Some ideas we suggest include:

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Tai chi
• Writing in a journal
• Getting a massage
• Playing with pets
• Aromatherapy
• Taking a warm bath
• Working on a puzzle or an art project
• Spending more time in nature

Even something as simple as going for an evening walk around your neighborhood can have a profoundly calming effect on your body and mind.

4. Join a Support Group or Seek Counseling

No matter how supportive your friends and family are, they can't truly understand chronic pain if they're not living with it themselves. As a result, you may begin to feel isolated and alone.

However, you're not the only one who's living with pain and seeking to improve their quality of life. Look for a support group in your area where you can meet and talk to others who are also coping with persistent pain. You'll learn from their experience and wisdom, and you'll feel less alone as a result.

What if your pain has created anxiety or even depression? You might consider speaking with a mental health professional. Counseling and therapy can help you to control negative thinking and better cope with your situation.

5. Educate Yourself About Pain Management Options

If you've been living with ongoing pain, it's easy to become disheartened. You may feel that no matter what you try, there's simply no solution for your pain.

However, if you've only spoken to your family doctor about your pain, they may not be aware of the latest pain management solutions. Some medical doctors are also quick to dismiss natural treatments, such as acupuncture or chiropractic care, that can provide effective relief for many patients.

The truth is that there are more treatment options for managing pain than ever before. The trick is to find someone who can diagnose the cause of your pain and then guide you to the best solution for you.

That's exactly what you'll get when you visit a pain management clinic. Rather than a hasty diagnosis and a prescription for narcotics, pain doctors take the time to find the underlying source of your pain. With a proper diagnosis, they're much better equipped to find the right treatment plan.

Depending on what's happening inside your body, a pain doctor might suggest:

• Acupuncture
• Botox injections
• Chiropractic adjustments
• Cortisone injections
• Joint or bursa injections
• Muscle relaxants
• Nerve blocks
• Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Stem cell therapy

These are just a few of the many treatment options available for anyone seeking pain relief. No matter what's ailing you, rest assured that an effective solution is out there!

Managing Pain Is Possible (With the Right Help)

Managing pain as you get older starts with being proactive. Whether you're young or old, the tips above can help you to better manage your pain and improve your quality of life.

Keep your body active with gentle exercises and activities you enjoy. Eat a healthy diet and find natural ways to manage your stress. You could also benefit by speaking to a counselor or joining a support group.

Finally, you'll want to stay informed of the latest options for pain management. From ancient treatments like acupuncture to cutting-edge advances in stem cell therapy and nerve blocks, there are more solutions now than ever before.

Would you like to speak with pain management professionals in Arizona? Contact us today to learn more about our treatment options. Together we can find the best solution for you!

Dealing with chronic (or even occasional) pain can be frustrating. In 2019 alone, 20.4% of adults suffered from chronic pain. Some of them reported that it limited their daily activities.

If you experience frequent or constant pain and body discomfort, there are a few steps that you can take to manage it on your own between visits to the doctor's office.

You don't have to sit through your pain. Keep reading to learn some of our top pain management tips.

1. Modify Your Diet

This may sound overly simplistic, but many people can manage their pain by changing their diets. It won't be a complete fix; pain is complicated. With that in mind, avoiding certain foods and drinks (and exchanging them for better options) may make a drastic change to the way that you experience pain.

You want to avoid excess inflammation. Eating healthy foods that don't generally trigger inflammation will make you feel better and give you more energy.

It's a good idea to test out cutting out dairy products. While many people can consume dairy without a problem, the lactose in dairy may cause inflammation even if you don't think that you're lactose intolerant.

Sugar is another problem for people with chronic pain. While you can eat sugar in moderation, too much sugar can cause your pain to worsen (and cause weight gain which can also worsen chronic pain). Stick to fruits and vegetables for your sugar needs.

While you should still limit fruit intake, picking high-potassium produce (like bananas) may help with certain kinds of chronic pain.

If you drink alcohol, try to cut back or omit it entirely. Alcohol has no nutritional benefit and it can trigger problems with sleep. When you already struggle with sleep from pain, your body won't be able to get adequate rest (thus worsening pain).

2. Exercise

Believe it or not, exercise is good for chronic pain.

It's tempting to stay in bed on bad pain days, and while this is fine from time to time, you aren't doing yourself any favors in the long run. Moving your body, stretching your muscles, and getting your heart pumping are great for pain management.

You don't have to partake in heavy exercise. Many people with chronic pain aren't capable of doing exercises like HIIT (high-intensity interval training) or heavy strength training, but that doesn't mean that you can't find an exercise that works for you.

Consider starting with brief walks around your neighborhood or through a local park. Even getting outside and enjoying some sunlight will help you.

You can also try gentle exercises like yoga or pilates. They're bodyweight exercises that also focus on flexibility and core strength so you don't have to put too much stress on your joints.

Yoga is also great for practicing mindfulness and breathing, so it has double the benefits.

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. Those endorphins are great for temporary pain reduction.

3. Join a Support Group

Living with chronic pain is sometimes isolating. It's hard to connect with friends and family members who don't understand what you're going through. If this sounds familiar to you, seek out a support group for people who suffer from chronic pain.

If you're having trouble finding a local support group, talking to a mental health professional might help. Not only can you receive individual therapy to help manage the mental aspects of chronic pain, but they may also be able to find you group therapy sessions or support groups.

4. Reduce Your Overall Stress

Did you know that stress can increase your pain?

Getting rid of stress isn't as easy as it sounds. When you live a busy lifestyle, have a lot of responsibilities, and manage pain on top of that, stress is part of life.

Taking some steps to avoid stress will help even if you can't get rid of it entirely.

First, start engaging in self-care when you can. Try putting together a self-care kit so you have something to reach for whenever you're feeling stressed.

Different people will have different things in their kits. Many people de-stress with journals or other forms of writing. Others like having sensory objects to provide a distraction.

Consider giving yourself an at-home spa day. Fill up your bathtub with water and bubbles (we suggest a soothing scent such as lavender) and rest your aching body. For extra relaxation, add a soothing face mask.

5. Get a Massage

Speaking of relaxation, a good massage will help you manage your pain.

A massage is great for loosening your muscles. While the help is temporary, it's good for serious pain days when nothing else is working. Not all massages are alike, so make sure you discuss your needs with the masseuse before you get started.

6. Learn Breathing and Meditation Skills

When the pain is so intense that exercise doesn't seem possible and the idea of getting into a bath or visiting a massage parlor is unrealistic, try to calm yourself with breathing techniques and meditation.

Deep breathing techniques will help you calm your mind down. This reduces stress and allows you un-tense some of your muscles.

Meditation is a great way to disconnect from your pain. When you're focusing on your breathing and the rhythm of your heart, it's easier to distract yourself.

You Can Manage Your Pain and Discomfort

Learning to manage your pain and discomfort will change your life. While you still need medical help to fully manage your pain, these techniques will help you while you're between doctor's visits. Try each technique and see which one works best for you.

Are you looking for a doctor to help you manage your pain?

At AZ Pain Doctors, our experienced medical professionals understand the impact that pain can have on your daily life. We want to help. Contact us to make an appointment today and start your healing journey.