Do you feel overwhelmed? How can you reduce physical pain?

There’s a good chance that you are in pain right now.

We are not talking about finances. (That’s another story.) The kind of chronic pain caused by arthritis is long-lasting. backachesAccording to the Institute of Medicine, at least 116,000,000 Americans experience strains, injuries, and the like. The nation is paying upwards of $558billion annually in medical bills, sick day, and lost productivity.

While many people feel the instinctive desire to take a painkiller, it can prove dangerous. “For some patients, taking an over-the-counter pain pill isn’t possible due to the risks associated with stomach irritation and interactions with other medications they’re on,” says Dr. Sylvia Hesse, an orthopedic medicine specialist at New York’s Manhattan Spine & Sports Medicine Center.

How can you deal with pain better? Continue reading.

* Look East. Dave Endres, noted sports therapist and advocate for exercise is also a proponent. “one of the best pain-management options for mild, moderate and even chronic pain,”However, he emphasizes that you don’t have to be a gym rat. Yoga, which Asians have practiced for centuries, he said, is a more gentle way to increase flexibility, build lean muscle, and improve circulation.

* Physical Therapy. The focus is on creating a personal treatment plan that will improve muscle strength and mobility. This usually takes six to 12 weeks. There is some exercise, but the goal is to teach you how to safely move so that future injuries are less likely.

* The Transdermal Bandwagon. These gels, patches, and creams are a long-standing European favorite. They can be used as a safe and effective replacement for pills such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Salonpas is a product that contains Salonpas medication.www.salonpas.us) delivers medicine right where it’s needed — at the site of pain — unlike pills that pass through the stomach and liver.

Pam Shriver is a tennis legend and sports journalist who loves the New Salonpas Deep Relaxing Gel. This gel helps to relieve her lower back pain as well as her sore shoulders. “hauling supplies around”For her school fundraising events. “It absorbs fast into my skin and muscles for powerful, long-lasting relief,”She says.

Dr. Hesse says Salonpas can be a safe and effective treatment for severe pain. However, it is important to consult your doctor if you have persistent symptoms or are unable to get relief from the basic treatments.