Pain patterns: can you see it coming?
We all know that prevention is better than cure, but some of us find it hard to read our bodies and spot the signs of a deep-seated issue.
When should we seek help?
At the onset of aches and pains, or when our bodies are in real trouble?
From past experience of helping free people from pain, I very often see clients who have waited until they’ve reached a crisis point before taking action, and that action is often in the form of a pill. It is far better to take pre-emptive action and manage pain the natural way.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
IT’S JUST A NIGGLE…
How many times have you said this?
I know just how you feel. In fact, it wasn’t until I started to work on my own body that I realised I didn’t need painkillers at all. Understanding how your body works is the key to knowing how to treat the aches and pains naturally, as and when the problems arise.
LISTEN TO YOUR BODY….
Most of us have a basic instinct about what feels right and what feels wrong, but it’s learning when to act that’s key. Chart those muscle spasms when they first begin, noting when they are worse and what seems to set them off. The longer you ache, the more chance there is of accruing long-term damage, with a much longer timescale needed to resolve the issue.
MASKING SYMPTOMS…..
What feels like muscle pain could in fact be something else. For example, very often we are simply dehydrated and don’t know it, and our body reacts in certain ways because it is trying to let us know. It only takes a small percentage of water loss to trigger dehydration reactors within the body. If you’re thirsty it’s too late, so drink up!
DAMAGE LIMITATION
Follow these simple steps to better mobility to help lessen the chance of future niggles:
• Keep moving: unless you’ve been specifically told to adopt caution when moving, one of the best ways of staying supple is to keep the body active. This can be with simple incremental movements, like getting up and walking down the corridor, stretching at the end, then walking back. Small changes build up to bigger benefits in the long run.
• Car talk: did you know that bad car seat positioning is one of the major causes of poor posture? Check that the headrest isn’t too far forward and adjust it if you need to. Move the driving seat all the way back before you get in then adjust it, and do the same thing when you get out again.
• Desk ergonomics: a good workstation makes all the difference if you spend all day sitting at a desk. Check that your arms are at a 90-degree angle and your feet flat on the floor, with legs uncrossed. Extended fingertips should be able to just about touch the monitor.
• Peaceful feeling: for me, a happy workspace is about creating a nice environment. Is the room comfortable and well ventilated, with pleasant lighting and maybe an oil diffuser by your desk? De-stressing your space can help your body relax, hopefully in the long term too.
• Morning mobilisers: during lockdown, I created a library of techniques from which you can form a daily routine. These include turning your head from side to side and carrying out simple stretches that can be done standing or sitting, as soon as you feel a niggle coming on. Click here to sign up.
Whatever the ache or pain, act as soon as you feel things beginning to build. Contact me for an online consultation and learn to manage your pain the pill-free way.
