There are several ways to manage pain without using medication or surgery. Find out five effective alternatives to pain medication and surgery here.
You know how the old saying goes: as you age, the aches and pains pile up. However, you may have been dealing with a nagging injury for quite some time.
In fact, it’s been going on so long, with no signs of healing, that you’re afraid something serious is going on.
Everyone’s knee-jerk reaction is to head to the doctor for medication to heal it or opt for surgery to rid yourself of it. However, some injuries don’t require surgery to be healed.
Here are several alternatives to pain medication and surgery that you should consider for the injury/injuries that you’re dealing with.
1. PRP Injections
A Platelet Rich Plasma injection (PRP Injection, for short) has been in the news a lot these past few weeks.
Miles Mikolas, a starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, just received one to heal up damage and pain in his throwing arm. The hope is that he avoids the dreaded Tommy John surgery that would keep him out of the lineup until next season.
PRP injections are safe, easy, and highly recommended by experts. They are meant to increase your body’s healing process by providing more platelets (which your body uses for blood clotting). That will speed up things such as damaged tissue repair.
It’s as easy as receiving an injection around the area of your injury and only takes half an hour to be completed.
Receiving a PRP injection might be the best option for you. Be sure to reach out to a professional PRP therapy expert to find out more.
2. Up Your Supplement Intake
If you don’t believe in the power of adding supplements and vitamins into your daily intake, you should start.
It’s an opportunity for you to monitor your diet on a more advanced level and make sure you’re receiving all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that it requires.
Taking supplements is just as preventative as it is healing. Adding more vitamins into your daily routine will help your body be more of a well-oiled machine.
In fact, there are certain supplements that have been proven to help with ongoing pain, such as Omega 3 fatty acids, otherwise known as fish oil pills. It’s primarily connected with the reduction of swelling, which will help the pain to lower as well.
That’s not the only benefit you’ll receive while taking it. Fish oils are also connected to brain efficiency and your overall mental health.
Be sure to consult with your doctor and see if or what supplements they recommend you start taking.
3. Consistent Exercise
What’s the best way to keep a piece of machinery working properly? Using it as much as possible and pushing it to new limits.
Your body is the same way. If you continue to work out on a regular basis, it will increase blood flow and fight against ongoing pain.
Now, that’s not to say that you should go out and start hurling heavy piles of weights left and right. In fact, just the opposite. Find a workout routine that pushes you, but isn’t too strenuous on your current injury.
For example, say you’ve been battling with tennis elbow for a while. You want to find a workout that keeps you active but isn’t constantly forcing the injured muscles to be overly used. So you should probably stay away from bicep curls and skull crushers.
Consider this: whatever form of exercise that you choose, the goal is to make sure you do it consistently.
If lifting weights or going to the gym isn’t your thing, that’s perfectly fine! Pick up a hobby such as jogging, golfing, or skating, for example. Consult with your doctor to see if there are any exercises that you shouldn’t perform due to your health condition.
Consider These Alternatives to Pain Medication and Surgery
It’s probably refreshing to know that you have so many more alternatives to pain medication and surgery than you might have imagined.
Do you still have a few questions about the process behind alternatives such as PRP therapy?
For more inquiries, please feel free to reach out via our contact us page and we’ll be happy to assist you further!