Life at times can be a real pain in the neck. Or in your shoulder, Or in your back, Or in your elbow, hand, knees, feet, or even a big toe. Pain can emanate from almost any part of your body, and whether it is merely annoying or excruciating, it usually begs some sort of immediate action to mitigate the unwanted sensory sensation.
How to Categorize Pain
There are two main kinds of pain: acute and chronic, both can be difficult to deal with, demanding treatment and care. Acute pain can hit like a hammer, but it usually is temporary, such as from a stubbed toe, a bee sting, or a muscle pull. It is often the result of a physical injury involving tissue damage. Although it’s relatively brief in length of time, lasting perhaps a few hours or days, maybe weeks, just remember that the messages pain send through your nerves is saying it shouldn’t be ignored.
Chronic pain? That’s another story altogether. It is called chronic because it lasts longer—much longer than acute pain, ordinarily. And it has an irritating knack for fending off medical treatment, in some cases rendering otherwise effective prescription medicines ineffective. Examples of chronic conditions accompanied by chronic pain include fibromyalgia and arthritis.
Roughly seven out of 10 chronic pain sufferers taking prescription medicine for the pain can still experience sudden flare-ups of pain known as “breakthrough pain.” This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as something as simple as turning over in bed or a medication wearing off before the next dose is administered.
One good thing associated with pain: it is your body’s way of telling you that there is something wrong with your body and it needs immediate attention. Just think what life would be like if you put your hand on a hot stove and felt nothing. Ouch!
6 Supplements Suitable for Fending off Pain
Americans spend tens of billions of dollars a year on natural medicinal approaches, otherwise referred to as supplements, an approach occasionally referred to as complementary medicine.
Following, in alphabetical order, are brief descriptions of a half-dozen supplements or herbs with a demonstrated track record of helping to treat and alleviate various types of pain in the body. These are separate from other common over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen that should be restricted to very short-term use. Be sure to consult with a physician before trying any of the following natural remedies for yourself:
Chondroitin. Chondroitin has demonstrated an ability to diminish inflammation, joint pain, and stiffness in those afflicted with osteoarthritis.
Collagen. Some studies say collagen can alleviate joint pain; others indicate it can lessen muscle soreness.
Vitamin D. Various epidemiologic studies have shown a connection between a vitamin D deficiency and the occurrence of chronic musculoskeletal pain, with one of those studies showing a 90 percent correlation.
Glucosamine. Glucosamine is a supplement component of cartilage found in numerous natural remedies for pain, such as those used to combat joint pain relative to osteoarthritis. Cartilage is a substance that works to thwart the pain and inflammation associated with two bones rubbing against one another.
Omega-3 fish oil. Scientific researchers more and more are looking into fish oil as a benefit for those with rheumatoid arthritis. That might be because a 2021 analysis of 70 fish oil studies suggested it could markedly reduce pain and morning stiffness in RA sufferers.
Turmeric. Curcumin, which is turmeric’s chief component, can help reduce pain-related inflammation.
Numerous natural supplements, herbs, and other compounds such as those described above have shown success in alleviating painful symptoms in your body. Be sure to check out any of these before trying them to make sure they are suitable for you and your specific condition. A healthcare professional can help you with that.