Taking the steps to properly deal with injuries resulting in acute and chronic pain can speed healing and prevent problems down the line.
For most acute pain, experts agree that the first three days are a window of opportunity for rapid healing. First aid for any type of musculoskeletal injury starts with RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). Here’s how you put it into practice.
* Rest doesn’t mean bed rest, which actually promotes stiffness and slows recovery, but avoiding vigorous activity that involves the injured area.
* Ice the injury early and often for 15-20 minutes at a time.
* Compression with an elasticized cloth bandage will minimize swelling.
* Elevation of the injured area above the level of your heart also helps to keep swelling at bay.
Nutritional Supplements for Acute and Chronic Pain Relief
For acute and chronic pain relief, there’s a nutritional supplement breakthrough I’ve been using with my patients called Meriva, and it’s a highly bioavailable, pain-reducing form of curcumin. It’s backed by significant research, and research demonstrates that just one small dose of this nutritional supplement is equivalent to 2,000 mg of regular curcumin. That’s 45 times the potency, which means it offers significant acute and chronic pain relief.
Another powerful nutritional supplement for acute and chronic pain relief is capsaicin, which comes from cayenne pepper. It’s been used therapeutically for centuries. Capsaicin works by depleting “substance P,” a neuropeptide produced by the nerves that carry pain sensations (the “P” stands for pain). Skin ointments containing capsaicin have been shown in studies to significantly relieve joint pain. Look for ointments with capsaicin in your local pharmacy or health food store.
Now it’s your turn: Have you found a natural solution for acute or chronic pain relief?