As I may have mentioned before, I have degenerative disc disease from a back injury. It’s been a battle dealing with all of the day-to-day pain and the pain that comes on suddenly that’s unbearable.
There are days where I can just deal with it and other days, I can barely pick up my babies or walk. There really is no way I can reverse my condition, but there are natural remedies for pain management.
I’ve been in and out of aquatic therapy (no pressure on joints), physical therapy, and regular therapy because it was hard for me to understand and to adjust to the changes the injury has caused in my life.
I’ve also been on butt-loads of medication. The medication was for nerve pain, muscle pain, and arthritic pain. I was taking so much that when I got refills, I would come home with brown grocery-sized bags.
It was getting to the point where all of the medications made me feel worse about myself because I was only in my early 30’s and I was taken meds prescribed to our senior population.
I decided that enough was enough and that I didn’t want to take anymore medication, no matter what. I chose to find natural pain relief to reduce my pain.
I’ve done a lot of research and have been medication-free for six months. The days I wake up without any pain and am able to run a couple of miles are so amazing to me!
There are days I do experience some pain, but it’s nowhere near what it was before.
Hoping that this information can help at least one of you, I’ve made a list of natural remedies for pain management that have helped reduce my pain and any other ailments brought on by my condition or medications. Enjoy!
*Please consult a physician before taking or going off of any medications.*
4 Natural Remedies for Pain Management and Inflammation
- Ginger- Using ginger for pain relief is by far is my favorite! I started opening ginger capsules and putting the contents into my tea and was drinking it every day. I noticed a difference on the second day. Since ginger helps to naturally reduce muscle pain and joint swelling, such as in arthritis, my pain decreased significantly. Now I cut up fresh ginger root and add it to my ice water with fresh peppermint or I blend it right into my smoothies as one of my pain management remedies. The spiciness of ginger doesn’t bother me, but if you don’t like spicy foods then you should stay away from ginger.
- Turmeric Curcumin- I also would add this to my tea because it is an anti-inflammatory. Besides using turmeric for inflammation, it also has a list of other benefits. Some of the benefits include, decreasing the likelihood of heart disease, treating Alzheimer’s, fighting depression, and is an antioxidant. I used turmeric capsules, but I didn’t open them like I did the ginger. Ok, I did open them once and it stained my cup and my teeth. So, now I just leave it in the capsule. I make sure I add a little coconut oil to my tea because turmeric is oil-soluble and not water soluble, so you only get the full benefits in your system when taken with any type of oil.
- Aloe Vera- If you’ve ever taken any type of pain medication, then you know that you can get constipated. It’s a terrible feeling, especially if it lasts for a couple of days. No matter how much water I drank or veggies I ate, sometimes (most of the time) nothing would happen for a couple of days. Over-the-counter laxatives were always within reach, but I hated the constant cramping. I needed something that would be gentle to my system, but that would get the job done. I found that I was able to buy one long aloe leaf from my farmer’s market for $1.50. What a great price, right? Aloe aids in the treatment of IBS and other digestive issues. I’d slice the leaf open and use the gel from the inside in my smoothies. Don’t eat the outside leaf part, unless you want a severe case of diarrhea. Also, I suggest to not eat aloe on its own. It has a very pungent taste.
- Peppermint- The medications I was taking had a lot of side effects. Bloating and gas were some of the worst. Even though I’m no longer taking the meds, I still experience some of those discomforts. Fresh peppermint helped with my bloating and gas. I would muddle the leaves and put them in ice water or blend it right into smoothies. Sometimes while I’m cutting the leaves, I would chew on the stem of the plant.
Are there any home remedies you use for pain or any other ailments?
Great list! =) I’ll have to try some of these out!
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I like the sound of the natural remedies. I had back surgery in 2009 to remove two bulging discs that were causing the worst pain I have ever had in my life and I now have a whole new understanding and sympathy for anyone dealing with this issue. Back pain seems to afflict so many people that your post could be of real benefit to many others. Thanks for sharing your findings and good luck with your ongoing battle.
Thank you so much, Sue!
GREAT ideas, thanks for sharing! Pinning right now!
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I didn’t know about the Aloe Vera tip. I have one growing on my kitchen windowsill and will have to try it.
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Great! I hope it works for you, Aliza!
These are great…pinned! I love using ginger for natural health! Thanks for sharing! xx
Thank you for the pin, Ashleigh!
I’m impressed you’ve been able to eliminate your need for medication. With the exception of the aloe, I use the others in smoothies and everyday cooking. I have friends from the Caribbean who swear by aloe for it’s laxative effects. They freeze the gel for use in smoothies,etc, but I don’t know how much they use. How did you determine the dosage for the various items?
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Hi, Lydia! I just use about a 3″ x 1″ piece of aloe in my smoothies. I cut the aloe and refrigerate the gel until I’m ready to use it. One leaf will last me about a week. I’m not sure if using more will have any extra benefits.
I’ve never seen aloe vera leaves sold at a farmer’s market, so it’s great that you found it! I used to have a large aloe vera plant, but somebody stole it from my porch (can you believe that?!?). So now we have a small aloe plant, and it will take some time for it to grow.
Thanks for sharing what has worked for you!
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I lucked out with finding them at the farmers market! It’s too bad that someone stole yours. I bet your new one will grow beautifully!
This is really great information! Thank you so much for sharing this!
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I’m all about everything natural! This post has such great info! Thanks!
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I love natural remedies for almost anything. I will bookmark this post. I know a lot of people who could benefit from this information.
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This is amazing! I love this! A couple of weeks ago I had a medical procedure that required pain meds, and they made me so sick I thought I would die. I’d much rather use some of these natural remedies that not only make me feel better, but are much better for my body too.
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I love using natural remedies, too! They have made me feel better!
I have used aloe vera for burns but not anything else. Great list!
Thank you, Melanie!
These are such fab ideas and I shared them with my hubs. He has a lot of old football injuries that have really started to bother him as he’s aged.
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I hope these work for him, Michelle!
This is SUCH a great post! I love the ideas!
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These are some great ideas for managing pain. My husband, I suspect, has IBS, and I wonder if he tried aloe in smoothies, if it would help me. Definitely going to try and see.
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Great! Let me know if it works for him!
Great tips! I will have to look into using ginger!
You’ll love it, Jamie!
Thank for highlighting so many natural remedies as I always think it is better and healthy for one’s body!
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It’s good to know more about pain relief methods. I like how you said that medication wasn’t the best option for you because that’s how I feel. I don’t want to be taking a ton of pills. Trying aloe vera sounds pretty great; I wonder if there’s like a gel I can use on my back with that in it.
Aloe wouldn’t be my first thought for pain management. I’ll have to try it out. I would add to your list White Willow, Cat Claw or Devil’s Claw. These are especially helpful for arthritis & gout. Magnesium is also great. Epsom Salt baths are these BEST! The other thing I do for pain management is making sure I am not acidic. 6.4 is optimal. Anything under 6.0 requires alkalizing minerals, green juices & lemon. Lastly, good digestive enzymes with meals & between help tremendously. I have Hashimoto Thyroiditis so I’m very familiar with pain & feeling very old even when I was young.
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