If You’re In Pain Consider These New Years Resolutions
90% of New Years resolutions have fallen come the 31st of January, often because they’re too challenging, unattainable or not something you enjoy. If you have been suffering from pain of any kind however, I am sure certain things that must motivate you is the idea of changing your life, your pain, your happiness.
If you’re relying on medicine to do this without changing your lifestyle then you could be missing out on some very simple solutions. The mechanisms behind how your pain starts, how you deal with it psychologically and the science behind it can be ultra-complex, but some of the simple things you can implement day to day may make a huge difference.
Change One Thing
You’ve considered treatment, you’ve done some stretching on and off and you’ve googled non stop but none of them have provided you with any long-term relief. If this sounds like you then you need to know that in order to drastically change your pain you may only need to do one thing. That one thing has to be in the form of a healthy habit, done consistently but with the acceptance that how things are today cannot be the same at any other point in the future.
Taking A Leap of Faith
If you’re in long term pain and are yet to try anything consistent you likely fall into one of the following categories; you’re scared, you’re not willing to make a financial commitment to change, you’re waiting for your pain to disappear or all of the above!
Should you be scared then please do visit your GP and get yourself checked, even if your symptoms are something sinister the earlier anything is caught the far easier it is to treat. If you’re not willing to make a financial commitment for whatever reason then this article is for you as below are some simple things to incorporate in to your day-to-day life that are risk free, they will undoubtedly improve your life.
If you’re waiting for your pain to disappear but it has been hanging around for longer than 6 months it may be time to take action. The new years resolutions outlined below are a great place to start but should they not be enough to change your pain and you’d like a more efficient, unique and specific approach to you, then please contact me.
Simple New Years Resolutions
- Move more
Record your steps and see how much (or little) you walk on a day to day and whatever it is, better it. One of the main causes of spinal stenosis, muscles cramps and pain is inactivity. Don’t fool yourself either, even if you go to the gym a few times a week or consider yourself active you’ll be shocked how little you may move.
- Drink more water
If there is one piece of advice, I could give to people in general it would be to drink more water (I sound like the sunscreen man), even if you think you’re drinking enough, drink more! If you haven’t tried much to relieve your pain and don’t drink enough water, make this very simple change.
- Eat better
Make any positive changes you feel are attainable for the long term, don’t start on the inevitable relapse of porridge, salad and meat and two veg, rinse, repeat. Change one thing in your diet positively and start there.
- Sit less
Alternate periods of being seated with being stood up and with moving around. If you’re on a call walk around the living room (helps with the move more resolution).
- Meditate with movement
Change your relationship with your pain. Pick a stretch you feel is uncomfortable (not painful) hold the movement, incorporate diaphragmatic breathing (breathe into your stomach through your nose and exhale slowly through pursed lips), think positive and register does this action start to feel easier the more you relax into it? Repeat for around six to ten deep breaths. If done consistently over time the movement should start to feel natural and comfortable, simply repeat this with the next uncomfortable action (one at a time is fine if you do not have time for more).
Nothing above is earth shattering information but can be ultra-effective when done consistently. If you’d like a faster more holistic approach then obviously get in touch, but if not just pick one of the above and incorporate in to your lifestyle for the year. Simply scale your pain today, then monthly look back and register how you feel.
Remember it is all connected,
Ben
Call – 07745 039 485
Email – Ben@BenFedrickInjuryTherapy.co.uk
