Living with chronic pain can feel like an ongoing battle, because it is. It’s both physically and emotionally draining and disruptive to even the simplest parts of your life. Whether your pain is stemming from an old injury, arthritis, or a medical condition, understanding how to manage it holistically can make all the difference to your quality of life.
Many people are turning to natural solutions like CBD for knee pain and other targeted areas of discomfort. Research into CBDs effectiveness is ongoing currently, and some studies and anecdotal evidence suggests it could help reduce inflammation and promote relief with the side effects associated with traditional medicine. Managing chronic pain requires more than one approach, so we’ve put together 4 lifestyle based strategies that can help to support long term relief.
- Try to stay active. When your body hurts, movement might be the last thing you feel like doing, but gentle and consistent activity is one of the most effective ways to reduce chronic pain. Low impact exercises including swimming, walking, yoga and Tai chi can help to improve circulation, maintain joint flexibility and reduce stiffness in the body. The key is to listen to yourself. Don’t push through the severe pain, but don’t remain completely sedentary, either. Movement can support healing and build resilience over time, especially when done mindfully.
- Practice mind and body techniques. Pain doesn’t just affect the body, but it impacts the mind. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all amplify the perception of pain, which creates a vicious cycle. That’s where practices like mindfulness, deep breathing, and meditation can come in. Techniques like guided imagery or progressive muscle relaxation can calm your nervous system and help you to respond to discomfort with more awareness and less distress. Even 5 minutes a day of focus breathing can create a noticeable shift in how you experience your pain.
- Explore targeted support tools. In addition to CBD for knee pain, there are several other tools that could help manage it. Topical balms or heat wraps for localised relief, massage therapy to loosen tight muscles could help, and acupuncture for improved energy flow and information reduction always works. Physical therapy to build strength and improve mobility is a good way to begin too. Because everybody’s pain story is different, it might take time and experimenting to find the right combination of treatments.
- Prioritise your rest and nutrition. Sleep and food play a major role in how your body processes pain. Chronic pain can make it hard to sleep, but poor sleep can worsen that pain.Create a calming bedtime routine and avoid screen time before bed. Talk to a provider if sleep issues persist. Nutrition also matters and anti-inflammatory foods may support your overall pain management efforts.
Managing chronic pain is a daily journey, not a one time fix. From lifestyle shifts to tools like CBD for knee pain and multifaceted approach can help to reduce suffering and restore control.
