pain medication – Hello Doctor

Home remedies for fibromyalgia

May 13th, 2019 by Content Editor

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that causes pain, tenderness, and fatigue in the muscles of specific parts of the body. It usually affects the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms, and legs. You experience pain whenever someone puts pressure on these areas.

Common symptoms include:

Tender and painful joints.
Sleep problems.
Fatigue.
Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, legs and arms.
Body stiffness.
Anxiety or depression.
Headaches.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Doctors and researchers don’t fully understand what causes fibromyalgia. Those most affected by the condition are middle-aged men and women, and those with a history of rheumatoid arthritis.

Although there isn’t a cure for fibromyalgia, there are ways to manage it using specific lifestyle changes, natural remedies and certain medications.

Try to:

Wind down

Like most things, feeling stressed out can make you feel worse, so it’s important to manage your stress levels. Get to a good mental state with stress-busting techniques. Start writing in a journal to let go of your thoughts and feelings in a healthy way. Round up some friends and join a relaxing yoga class or go jogging. You could also join a fibromyalgia support group. Being around those who can relate to your condition can make you feel good and less alone.

Catch regular Zs 

Sleep is vital for everyone, but particularly those with conditions like fibromyalgia. The condition can make you feel drained, so a good night’s rest each night will help combat fatigue. To ensure you’ll have proper sleep you should:

Avoid napping during the day.
Limit light and noise before bed.
Leave two to three hours between eating a heavy meal and going to bed.
Avoid using screens (phones and laptops) before bed.
Don’t drink alcohol and caffeine before bed.

Move more 

If you have fibromyalgia, you may avoid exercise if you often experience pain with movement. At first, exercising may be difficult, but over time, it will get easier and you’ll reap the health benefits. It becomes easier because exercise provides a natural anti-inflammatory effect, as well as strengthening up muscles. Talk to your doctor before trying any new workouts, but swimming, walking and cycling are good choices.. What’s more is that these kinds of exercise can help reduce pain, stiffness and fatigue.

Try acupuncture 

Acupuncture therapy works by lowering your anxiety, pain and fatigue levels. Many people with fibromyalgia find relief with this technique.

Have a massage

A massage can help with the constant pain you feel with fibromyalgia. According to researchers from the Touch Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage therapy can improve sleep, lower joint pain and keep stress hormones at bay. Book an appointment for a massage to help you cope with any pain. Why not have a couple’s massage with a loved one so it can be a fun, relaxing activity?

Talk to your doctor 

If home remedies aren’t helping to ease and manage your symptoms, talk to your doctor. He may prescribe certain medication. Common medications are muscle relaxants, fatigue medication and painkillers. Don’t try any medication or home remedy unless your doctor gives the go-ahead or prescribes it to you.

References:

Alternative therapies to manage chronic pain

June 8th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

Chronic pain is a common problem. Chronic means when pain lasts for more than several months (usually between three to six months).

Over-the counter-medication isn’t the only way to relieve pain. Take a look at alternative therapies.

Therapies & treatments

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine that’s rapidly becoming a mainstream treatment for pain. It’s believed to release pain-numbing chemicals in the body and block pain signals coming from the nerves. This works for pain caused by conditions like fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, back injuries, and sports injuries. Acupuncture can treat lower back pain, menstrual cramps, headaches, joint conditions, and the side-effects of chemotherapy and nausea related to pregnancy.

Regular exercise has loads of benefits for people with different painful conditions. Physical activity can help relieve chronic pain, as well as boost energy and mood. Exercising can improve muscle strength and boost endurance. It helps with circulation and gets oxygen and nutrients to your tissues. This will help improve the function of your cardiovascular system. If you have chronic pain, check with your doctor before you start an exercise routine.

Depression and chronic pain often go together. Chronic pain can cause or worsen depression. The condition can lower a person’s tolerance for pain. Give therapy a try to help you talk out and solve problematic behaviours, beliefs and feelings.

The goal with deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation is to produce the body’s natural relaxation response, which is slower breathing, lower blood pressure and a sense of a good and balanced well-being.

Yoga has been practised for centuries and is said to reduce stress and improve fitness. It can also teach you that your breath is the bridge that links your mind and body. Inhaling and exhaling can help you achieve a deep sense of relaxation, flexibility and strength.

Supplements

Symptoms of bone pain and muscle weakness can be a result of Vitamin D deficiency. Get Vitamin D supplements, while adding plenty of Vitamin D-fortified foods like orange juice, salmon, and tuna to your diet.

Eating Vitamin C-rich foods is a good idea for your general health. Great options include red peppers, strawberries, citrus fruits, and broccoli. Vitamin C is known to reduce inflammation and act as a natural antibiotic and antihistamine (a type of medicine often used to treat allergies).

Supplements of Vitamin B have been shown to be effective in pain management for different conditions. You can get Vitamin B12 from your diet through eggs, milk, fish, meat, and some fortified cereals.

Vitamin E may be able to reduce exercise-related damage to muscles. Boost your Vitamin E intake through foods, and use safflower or sunflower oil when cooking. Snack on sunflower seeds and nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and peanuts. Talk to your doctor before using any supplement as they’re not a substitute for medication.

References

Need chronic painkillers? Try these natural alternatives

April 20th, 2018 by The Hello Doctor Team

You massage your temples to try and ease the pain. This is your second headache of the day; time to pop another pill.

Painkillers have become household and handbag essentials over time. In the United States Opioids have even made headlines, as the drug-dependence epidemic surfaced. Strangely, many of us don’t know (or care) what we’re swallowing, as long as it gives us relief.

What you need to know

There are two main kinds of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and opioids. When you’re injured or hurt, special nerves send messages to your brain to communicate that you’re in pain. Painkilling drugs block or interfere with these messages, giving you relief. Not understanding the effects of any medication you’re taking could be dangerous, so let’s get clued up.

Anti-inflammatories

Anti-inflammatories are used to ease pain and reduce inflammation. They’re commonly used for conditions like joint pain, muscle and ligament pain (strains and sprains), period pain, headaches and migraines. Common over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex and Aspirin.

Opioids

Opioids are drugs that have morphine-like effects and are mainly used for pain relief. They activate opioid receptors and nerve cells in the brain, which helps with pain relief. Other uses include helping to ease coughing and diarrhoea. Examples of opioids are morphine, methadone and oxycodone.

Swallow with caution

When you feel pain, you want the quickest and most effective solution, so you turn to painkillers. The problem is, they can become addictive. Painkillers can be addictive over time because of their “quick fix” effect. If painkillers are taken for a long time, your body adapts to the effect and it won’t give you relief as easily. Over time, you’ll need to take a higher and higher dose to get the same effect, spiralling out into drug misuse.

Opioids are the most commonly abused prescription medications, which people often take just to feel good. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, 75% of overdose-related deaths are from opioids abuse or misuse.

Ease the pain naturally

In some cases, like with chronic pain, anti-inflammatories and opioids are needed. Talk to your doctor before taking them, though. Alternatively, there are some natural ways to relieve pain.

Turmeric

This flavourful yellow powder gives curry its signature colour and flavour, and also has healing effects. It contains curcumin, an antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals. It helps relieve inflammation and pain and works well to soothe indigestion, muscle aches and ulcers. Make turmeric tea or flavour foods with it to reap the benefits. You can also take curcumin capsules if you don’t enjoy the taste of turmeric.

Cloves

There’s an active ingredient in cloves called eugenol; a natural pain reliever. It’s widely used in pain ointments and comes in the form of capsules, powder and oil (besides its natural form). Rubbing a small amount of clove oil on sore gums temporarily relieves toothache pain, but talk to a dentist before using it and don’t use it undiluted. Cloves may also help with symptoms of a cold, nausea, pain and inflammation.

Lavender and peppermint oil

Peppermint oil helps improve circulation and lavender oil relieves muscle tension, making a good solution for aches and pain. Use a few drops of these oils to massage away a headache. Rub gently on your forehead, temples and the back of your neck. If it’s too strong, blend with some essential oil like coconut oil, almond oil or grape seed oil.

Good to know

Deep breathing and meditation will help ease pain.
For chronic pain, keep track of your pain levels with a score out of 10. This will help your doctor choose your treatment.
Always talk to your doctor before taking painkillers and read labels for warnings, dosage instructions and side-effects.
Do gentle exercises like dancing, swimming and walking. Staying active boosts endorphins; the feel-good hormone.