Although everyone experiences physical pain from time to time, many prefer (or insist on) avoiding medications when they’re searching for relief. In some cases, getting rid of pain without over-the-counter or prescription drugs can be easier than you might think. Sometimes it’s as simple as replacing everyday items with products that help prevent pain as well as manage it after it occurs.
Start With Your Sleeping Habits
We sleep for approximately one third of our lives, yet we don’t always put due importance on where we sleep. If you’re still on an old innerspring mattress and you have pain problems, you might benefit from a change. A memory foam mattress is considered a favorite among people who suffer from pain. According to sleep specialists, memory foam can improve the quality of sleep by relieving pressure points. Conventional memory foam feels pillowy when you lie on it and conforms to your body almost immediately, springing back to its original shape as soon as you get up. Memory foam mattresses are usually available in different levels of firmness. You don’t have to go to a specialty store for one, either. As they’ve become more popular, more vendors are offering them. You can shop for a memory foam mattress at macys.com as easily as at a furniture store. Experts recommend airing out a new mattress before sleeping on it.
Regardless of the state of your mattress, relief may be as close as your pillow— as long as it’s the right one for your sleeping style. Pillows affect the quality of sleep and how we rest and recharge, says Michael Breus, Ph.D., a sleep expert and author. If you sleep on your back, try a slimmer pillow, so your neck is cradled and your head is not pushed forward. If you sleep on your side, you need a firmer pillow to fill the gap between the ear and your shoulder. Stomach sleepers should look for a thin, nearly flat pillow or consider foregoing a pillow altogether. But you may want to slip one under your abdomen to minimize lower back pain.
Suppose You Need to Sit
A zero-gravity recliner is another option for pain relief. This recliner inspired by a NASA concept eases the stress on the spine by elevating you to a “zero gravity” position. With feet raised level to the heart, the pull of gravity on the vertebrae is reduced, eliminating back pain. These recliners also can improve circulation, allowing the heart to work less.
Supporting Your Soles
If you’re on your feet all day, your shoes matter. Nurses, for example often work long shifts on hard concrete or linoleum-covered floors. In the wrong shoes, they’d end the day with not only aching feet but a sore back, sore hips or painful knees. That’s why you see lots of medical professionals in clogs, which work well because of the support under the heel and the stability they give to the entire foot.
One of the best and most popular clog brands is Dansko, a Danish company. Dansko has been at the forefront of comfort footwear since it was introduced in the U.S. 20 years ago. The shoe has a memorable shape and clean construction. In early 2008, Dansko’s innovative footwear enhancements boosted the stability, performance and comfort of the clogs. Clogs can give improved lateral stability and a more balanced heel strike, reducing the danger of rolling or twisting the ankle.
Next time you find yourself hurting, try treating the reason for the pain. You may find yourself needing fewer pharmaceutical remedies. And that’s a good thing.
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