4 Tried & Tested Ways for Reducing Pain
I￢ﾀﾙd like to start off with a few interesting statistics:


Back pain is a $240 billion a year business.
80% of us will experience back pain at some point in our lives.
Experts say that most prescriptions prescribed for pain are unnecessary.
The United States makes up only 4.6% of the world's population, but consumes 80% of its opioids, and 99% of the world's hydrocodone, the opiate found in Vicodin.


As a chiropractor, my job is to treat the musculoskeletal system. In a perfect world, I'd be adjusting people regularly in order to keep their spines aligned, their bodies in working order, and prevent injury and degeneration. In practice however, the majority of my patients come to see me because they are already in pain. From a slight twinge in the neck to having to lie down in the back of a pick up truck to make it to my office (yes, this has actually happened!), pain is pain.
No one wants to be in pain. It can affect our lives in so many ways￢ﾀﾔfrom our moods to our energy levels to our ability to get things done. And as someone whose job it is to ease your pain and make you feel better, it￢ﾀﾙs no surprise that over the years I've perfected some short term DIY treatments for my patients who are suffering from acute pain and are in need of some relief. So today, I￢ﾀﾙm letting you in on my favorite quick tips and tricks!
My top 4 tips, revealed.

1. Ice vs. heat. Depending on the doctor you see, one of the first ways they'll suggest to alleviate pain symptoms is with either ice or heat. While heat certainly feels good and will provide you some short term relief from your symptoms, the very best thing you can do for your body is to ice the affected area. 
Most pain is caused in some way by inflammation and the pressure it puts on nerves. While heat feels good, it won't do anything to address the inflammation and you'll just need to do it again in a little while. Ice on the other hand will actually relieve some of the swelling in your muscles and not only provide short term relief, but actually begin to treat the problem.
How to ice properly: Prepare a bag of ice and wrap it in a wet towel. Apply to the area in pain for 20 minutes every two hours￢ﾀﾔany longer could possibly create more problems, and honestly, you won't be able to take it much longer than that anyway. The cold can be a little uncomfortable at first, but push through it and you'll begin to feel relief.
2. Medications. With so many prescription pain relievers on the market, it's hard to know which one to take for what! When it comes to back pain specifically, remember that the issue we￢ﾀﾙre addressing is inflammation. So the very best medication is going to be an anti-inflammatory like Advil or Aleve. An acetaminophen like Tylenol is a pain reliever and like heat it will provide some symptom relief, but will not really help the problem.
Extra tip: If you're in terrible pain, you can take Tylenol for one dose and Advil for the next.
3. Rest position. When people sprain their ankle they take extra care to bandage it, to stay off their feet, and even use crutches. Simply, they rest it. When you have back or neck pain, you should think of it in the same way as you would a sprained ankle￢ﾀﾔit￢ﾀﾙs an injury. Yet most people continue about their everyday business as if their back will just miraculously heal while continuing to put pressure on it.
Now, I realize that with something like a sprained ankle you are able to stay off of it while still using your other leg to get around. But unfortunately, you only have one back. So if you have work that affects the area in pain or kids to carry around, I can't suggest that you not use your back at all. But instead, what you can do is in the morning, for 20 minutes in the afternoon, and definitely at night, keep your body in a "rest position" that takes pressure off of your joints.
4. Movement/Exercise. Now this might come as a surprise to you, and sound like it contradicts Pain Hack #3 above, but movement can be extremely beneficial to relieving pain. I know I know, sometimes you just want to lie in bed all day, and here I am telling you to move around and exercise. But studies have found, and I have seen first hand with my patients, that those who exercise and incorporate frequent movement into their routine are able to better manage their pain and feel better than those who remain sedentary.
I personally don￢ﾀﾙt know what level of pain you are in, so you absolutely want to check with your doctor first before starting any exercise regimen. But something that almost everyone can do is move more. If you have a desk job or find yourself sitting or standing in one position for a majority of your day, then I recommend moving around for 2-3 minutes after every hour spent inactive. Get up from your desk and walk down the hall, perform a few simple stretches right from your chair, stand up and do a few lunges￢ﾀﾦa little movement can go a long way.
And whatever you do...
Please don't ignore your pain! Pain is a sign that something is wrong. It could be a functional problem like arthritis or a slipped disc, but more likely than not, it￢ﾀﾙs a structural problem caused by something you are doing. Pay attention to when your pain started, when it￢ﾀﾙs at its worst, and what makes it feel better. Visit your doctor equipped with this information so the he or she can make a proper diagnosis and you can quickly start treatment. Until then, try some of these quick tips and see how they work for you. If you think that a break reminder program like Voom might help you, I invite you to use the promo code PAIN at checkout for 25% off a one year subscription￢ﾀﾔyou￢ﾀﾙll have hourly exercise videos delivered right to your workstation, targeting the parts of your body most in need of movement.
Have a question about your pain?
If you have a question about your pain, and don't think it warrants a visit to your physician, then I￢ﾀﾙm here to help! Both myself and my brother, Dr. Eric, will gladly answer any of your pain or injury questions. Just fill out this form and one of us will get back to you within 24 hours!





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This resource is not meant as a diagnostic tool. If you are suffering from a chronic pain condition, visit your physician before beginning any treatment protocol.
http://blog.voomwell.com/blog/bid/379723/Pain-Hacks-Dr-Greg-s-Tips-Tricks-for-Relieving-Pain