Healthy Habits: Pain Relief

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

I recently reviewed Salonpas products, but I wanted to highlight a few pain relief tips from some of their experts as well.

From Dave Endres, Physical Therapist, Master of Science in Physical Therapy, Co-Founder of SPEAR Physical Therapy in New York City:

• We work closely with a patient’s doctor to ensure that their pain management is safely managed through drug therapy when necessary. However, if there is a choice between oral or topical pain therapies we encourage the transdermal route every time. Transdermal pain therapy ensures a control-released delivery of pain medication. The new Salonpas Deep Relieving Gel features three powerful pain relieving ingredients which go right to the site of pain. In my business, keeping pain at bay for as long as possible, and ultimately eliminating it from one’s life is a key imperative.
• Stretching and exercise are always the first things that come to mind when I think about the rest of the world, especially in Asia. Practices like yoga improve flexibility, help build lean muscle and improve circulation. However, the use of topical pain relievers also comes to mind. Asian countries use topical pain relievers as often as they use pills. Both of these practices have been going on for hundreds of years, so you know that they are tried and true.
• While pain may leave a person wanting to curl up in bed with a heating pad and a bottle of medication to ease their aches, exercise is one of the best pain management options for mild, moderate and even chronic pain. Physical therapy can be highly effective for all types of musculoskeletal and neuropathic types of pain. A primary goal of physical therapy is to help chronic pain patients become stronger, because they're usually weaker from not moving. Physical therapy can teach people how to move safely and functionally in ways that they haven't been able to in some time. Exercising for just 30 minutes a day on at least three or four days a week will help with chronic pain management by increasing endurance, muscle strength, joint stability and flexibility in the muscles and joints. A consistent exercise routine helps control pain. Regular exercise helps a person maintain the ability to move and function physically, rather than becoming disabled by pain.
• Physical therapy addresses the physical side of the inflammation, stiffness, and soreness with exercise, manipulation, and massage, but it also works to help the body heal itself by encouraging the production of the body's natural pain-relieving chemicals. 
• Physical therapy can feature many different types of pain management methods, including manipulation of joints and bones, massage therapy, movement therapy and exercise and even micro-current stimulation to increase serotonin and dopamine to alleviate pain naturally. A physical therapist works with each patient to understand his or her particular pain — what causes it and what can be done to manage it. This is the kind of attention that a regular doctor often doesn’t have the time to give, but a physical therapist can provide; they can ask questions and talk about pain issues as the patient is going through their exercise routine.

From Pam Shriver, Hall of Fame Tennis Star and Sports Broadcaster:

• I practice good self-care and live a very healthy lifestyle. When I learned about transdermal pain therapy, wherein the pain relief ingredients penetrate the skin and go directly to the source of pain, I found myself reaching for the topical pain products offered by Salonpas. Coincidentally, Salonpas then reached out to me to support its brand, and I was already a fan. My new favorite is the Salonpas Deep Relieving Gel. This powerful new gel rushes three pain fighters deep into my muscles providing relief for up to eight hours. It melts fast on my skin, absorbing quickly, and provides deep relief.
• Move More and Sit Less – When you exercise, blood flows faster in your blood vessels and natural internal medicines are released. Exercise actually can lower high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar and can keep you from feeling depressed. It really doesn’t matter what type of cardiovascular exercise you do as long as you do it! Aim for three days a week at first and then go to five or more days for optimal wellness. I feel better when I exercise every day! 
• Eat Clean – We live in a world where people have easy access to processed foods that are laden with high sodium, sugar and trans-fats. Eating clean is about choosing fresh, whole foods with all of their nutrients intact. By enjoying more unprocessed whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean meats and fish which do not contain artificial preservatives, trans fat and saturated fat and sugars, you will feel and look healthier and have a lot more energy. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water every day! 
• Celebrate Life and Reduce Stress – It doesn’t matter whether you meditate, do yoga or laugh a lot – all of these activities help minimize stress. It’s so important for us to celebrate life and all the blessings we have and focus on our solutions, not problems, to live the healthiest life possible. 
• Give Back – I’ve made volunteering and being of service an important part of my life. These activities provide a meaningful and positive impact in my community and also benefit me—a win-win for everyone. Through volunteering, you receive the satisfaction of giving back, gain new life experiences, and have the opportunity to meet a diverse new group of people. 
• Turning Japanese- I first traveled to Japan to play tennis as a teenager. It was then that I became fascinated by and completely respectful of the healthy lifestyle of the Japanese people. While many older Japanese people don’t engage in traditional exercise such as going to the gym, they are decidedly more physically active, eat healthier, and engage in meditation more than the majority of older Americans. Japanese people walk more, tend to their gardens, and eat a lean protein rich diet and spend quality time with family and friends. The Japanese are not a pill popping culture. They embrace a more holistic lifestyle with transdermal drug delivery being widely accepted. On the other end of the spectrum, some Americans are unaware of the active ingredients and potential side effects of popular over-the-counter pain relievers and exceed the maximum dosage of acetaminophen, which, for example, can cause severe and permanent liver damage. 

From Sylvia Hesse, MD, Orthopedic Medicine:

• While topical or transdermal drug therapy is common in Europe and Asia, the United States is still predominately a pill culture. Transdermal means “through the skin”, and includes the use of a medicated patch, gel, or cream that is affixed, rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. Unfortunately, when people self-medicate with over-the- counter oral pain medications, they can ingest inappropriate doses and run the risk of potential drug interactions, which can lead to unintended or unsuspected dangerous side effects, some of which can be as serious as liver failure or heart damage.
• While taking an acetaminophen pill for pain is safe when following the package directions, problems can arise as the result of a single intentional or accidental overdose. Acetaminophen is also a common ingredient in a wide variety of non-prescription and prescription products, and accidental overdose is often the result of taking multiple products that contain this ingredient. Even though it is safe when taken appropriately, it can be very dangerous if you take too much, and overdoses can lead to death or liver damage.
• An overdose of ibuprofen can cause life-threatening heart or circulation problems, such as heart attack or stroke, especially if used long term. Ibuprofen may also cause damage to the stomach or intestines, including bleeding or perforation. These conditions can be fatal, and can occur without warning while a person is taking ibuprofen, especially in older adults.
• Consumers must remember that just because a product is available over the counter, doesn’t mean it’s not a potent medicine. Any medication needs to be taken as directed. 
• Topical creams, gels, and patches offer a unique way of delivering medication to your body which offers distinct advantages over taking medications orally. One of the biggest advantages is that the medication is delivered directly to the site of pain. Direct application allows a higher concentration of the drug to reach the tissue that needs it. The total amount of medication absorbed into the bloodstream is low, leading to a very low incidence of side effects, in contrast to oral medications. Topical treatments can use less medicine and get the same or better relief.