When Pain Medicine Isn't Enough: Ways To Combat Inflammatory Arthritis Pain

Many people with inflammatory arthritis rely extensively on pain medication to get through the day. There will be days when it seems like your medication is not controlling the problem. Trying a combination of approaches will make it easier to manage pain.

CBD Oil

One of the main benefits of CBD oil is it reduces pain, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties. Sometimes when your current pain medications are not as helpful, it may be because you are experiencing more inflammation than usual. Starting with a CBD oil tincture is the easiest way to begin the process of deciding the effective dose for your needs. Generally, people with widespread, chronic pain will need a higher daily dose of CBD before they notice a difference. Try to buy the largest bottle of the highest concentration CBD oil, which will give you a little more room to experiment before you run out. Tinctures work quickly, so you do not have to wait long before you notice any benefits or determine you need to try a higher dose.

Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques can have surprising benefits in the management of chronic pain. Everyone will be different in what approach is more effective. One method to increase relaxation is to try soothing music. Make a playlist of different types of music that have a soothing rhythm, especially classical, if you enjoy the genre. While you are listening to your music, try to focus on your breathing. It is common to hold your breath when you are in pain, which makes the pain worse. Practice taking slow, deep breaths through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. As an alternative, you may want to try audio tapes specifically geared toward meditation or hypnosis for chronic pain relief. Some people find these instructional audio tapes make it easier to manage day-to-day pain.

Use Distractions

When you are in pain, the last thing you want to do is potentially make the pain worse, but sometimes you need to find ways to create a distraction for yourself. There is a natural tendency to be as still as possible and avoid any unnecessary activities. If you enjoy art, try to use a medium that does not require as much preparation, such as watercolors. Similarly, forcing yourself to talk with friends or binge-watch TV shows can at least offer a momentary distraction from your pain. Sometimes hours can go by without being solely focused on your pain if you can find the right distraction. Unfortunately, the more you are immersed in your pain, you generally feel the pain with much more intensity.

Pain medication is a daily necessity for some people with moderate to severe chronic pain. There will be days when your current prescription is not enough. Trying other approaches to managing your pain may be enough to ease exacerbation.