What are nondrug ways to reduce pain?
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Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Next time your bum knee acts up or your boss goes on a tear or your mate ticks you off, don't roll into a miserable ball. Take a breath, then make like your favorite Olympian winning gold, or LeBron scoring a winning basket. Try it! If arm pumping feels like a bit much, here are some subtler poses that will help you radiate confidence and push back against pain:
- Stand tall, not hunched forward, with your head lined up over your shoulders, hips, and ankles.
- When you sit, look for a chair with armrests. Plant your arms wide on them, so your chest opens up, signaling assurance to yourself and others.
- Standing or sitting, keep your hands relaxed, not clenched, clasped together or held to your chest, so they're free to make bold gestures.
Next time your bum knee acts up or your boss goes on a tear or your mate ticks you off, don't roll into a miserable ball. Take a breath, then make like your favorite Olympian winning gold, or LeBron scoring a winning basket. Try it! If arm pumping... More -
RealAge answered:When you experience something painful, an electrical impulse travels from the affected area of the body to your spinal column and then on up to your brain, which translates the electrical impulse into pain. But research suggests that you can confuse your brain -- and dull the pain -- if you simply cross your arms.
A Show of HandsIn a study, participants' hands were subjected to stimuli that ranged from mildly uncomfortable to slightly painful -- but nothing more intense than a pin prick. And they experienced the sensation either with their hands at their sides or their arms crossed over their middles. Then the study participants rated the pain on a 100-point scale. And results showed that the intensity of the sensations was significantly reduced when people's arms were crossed.
Fool Your BrainScientists speculate that this arm crossing somehow muddles the way the brain perceives pain. Normally, your brain maps both your body and the space around it. But if, for example, your left thumb is on the right side of your body and your thumb is hurting, the mismatch with the brain's body and space maps may confuse the brain just enough to throw off the pain-signaling process and dull the feeling.
When you experience something painful, an electrical impulse travels from the affected area of the body to your spinal column and then on up to your brain, which translates the electrical impulse into pain. But research suggests that you can confuse... More
