Keys to a Pain Free Pregnancy!

Being pregnant can take a toll on your body.  As the tiny human being inside of you grows, the pressure on your lumbar spine increases.  This creates a ripple effect that can cause sciatic pain as well as shoulder and neck pain. (Remember! Everything in your body works as a unit.) Nevermind the headaches, fatigues and other miscellaneous aches.  Following are a few tips to help you combat the aches and pains of pregnancy.

1. Yoga and Stretching:
Keeping your muscles limber and flexible is key to limiting the amount of pain you experience.  Try these eight yoga poses for pregnant women.  You may also look at these stretches for pregnant women.   Want to get a little more in depth in your exercises? Try these!

2.  Natural Pain Relief:
-Drinking more water while you’re pregnant may actually help you combat aches and pains.  Yes, you’ll have to visit the restroom more often, but it will keep your body in much better working order.  
-Prenatal massage is a viable option to both soothe aching muscles and combat stress.
-Sleep the right way! Use pillows to make sure that you’re sleeping in ways that keep your body structurally aligned. Good neck support is key and a full body pillow between the knees and to wrap your arms around can help keep your hips from becoming misaligned.
-While you’re at it, get plenty of rest. Even if you have to take a nap every day!  Fatigue has a magical way of making your aches and pains worse.  Let your body rest!

3.  Sore No More!
Applying Sore No More to the parts of you that ache is an excellent and all natural way to have a pain-free pregnancy.  Even better?  For a limited time you can receive a special discount from our ad in Healthy Mom and Baby Magazine, which you can read free online!

Remember- when you’re pregnant, you and your baby are a top priority. Take care of yourself and enjoy a happy, healthy, pain-free pregnancy!  


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Modalities: Rolfing

There are so many different ways to deal with physical pain available.  The important thing to remember is that not everything is going to work for everyone.  However, if it’s on the market, the likelihood is that it has worked for at least a few people. It’s important to stay open minded and be willing to try new things in your pursuit of a pain free life.

Rolfing is a form of structural integration.  The idea is that by manipulation of soft tissue,  your body can be realigned.  In this particular form of manipulation, movements are used to break up adhesions in the fascia that may be restricting skeletal muscle movement and thus causing pain.

Developed by Ida P. Rolf, Rolfing has been in the works since the 1930’s and The Rolf Institute of Structural Integration has been around since the 1970’s.   

Rolfing is very deep work and is generally performed over a series of sessions aimed at normalizing body function.

To learn more about Rolfing, you can visit the Wikipedia article here.
Watch a Rolfing video here.


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Psychosomatic Pain Part II

This is a continuation on last month's article on Psychosomatic Pain.

Emotions and Pain
Chronic pain can be tied to abuse as a child, or even as an adult {source}.  In fact, the brain processes physical pain and mental pain in a very similar manner, making the correlation between the two entirely feasible.  Without proper coping mechanisms, emotional pain can easily manifest itself into physical pain.  Likewise, physical pain can lend itself to emotional discontent.  In many cases, chronic pain and depression can be found living in a parasitic harmony, each feeding off the other.   

In her book ‘You Can Heal Your Life,’’ Lousie L. Hays lists the probable emotional cause for many different ailments and suggest affirmations to solve them.  It provides an interesting insight on how working through emotional pain can have a positive impact on physical pain.

Neurotransmitters and Pain
Neurotransmitters are responsible for delivering messages from your brain to your body and vise versa. They play vital roles in physical, mental and emotional reactions. Much like the hormone imbalances discussed in the adrenal fatigue section, neurotransmitter imbalances can impact physical pain levels and emotional wellbeing.  

Neurotransmitters work as filters in the communication network of the brain.  If the pain management filter is not working effectively, it can cause or worsen chronic pain.  

Solving the Problem
The first step to solving any pain problem is trusting yourself.  Trust that there is a way to solve your problem and that you are worth the effort required to get there.  You must be strong enough to seek out physicians and other healers who are able to help you.   

Adrenal fatigue, emotional stress and neurotransmitter imbalances can all be helped by lifestyle choices including nutritional changes and stress management techniques.  This may require adding things to your diet, finding a therapist you can communicate with, taking up a new exercise routine, and/or treating yourself to monthly massages.

Psychosomatic/psychogenic pain is very real.  Often times it is downplayed because of the difficulty in finding a physical cause.  A bruise hurts when you press on it.  It is an obvious physical pain with an obvious physical cause.  Just because the cause of a pain cannot be seen, visually does not make it less relevant.  Over time, pain that is caused by hormone imbalance, emotional struggle or neurotransmitter dysfunction can cause obvious physical problems (tightened muscles can move bones, generating disc, bursa and ligament problems to name a few).  As many of you know, at this point in the progression, problems become much more difficult to fix, so why not start trying to solve them now?

{Sources: Pain Center of Orlando, NaturalNews.Com, National Sleep Foundation, NCBI, Psychology Today, LA Times, Wikipedia, IWR.Com}

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Psychosomatic Pain Part I

Have you ever felt as though your chronic pain was being downplayed because it was “all in your head?”  That may be true.  The fact of the matter is that mental and emotional states can have a profound and very real impact on pain levels.  A high stress level has physical consequences.  It can exacerbate pain that is already present, such as arthritis.  Or, it can generate new pains that were not previously present, as is often the case with those suffering from Fibromyalgia.  

There are some key players in the stress-pain correlation;

Adrenal Fatigue
Hypoadrenia (adrenal fatigue) occurs when your adrenal glands become overworked, expelling too much adrenaline and cortisol.  These are your ‘fight or flight’ hormones.  In the absence of need to flee from, say, saber tooth tigers, today’s human is expelling far too many of these hormones in response to things like getting the incorrect order at Starbucks.

Adrenal fatigue can express itself as chronic pain and is often misdiagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia.  Muscular pain is a common symptom of adrenal fatigue, most specifically those muscles found in the legs (sartorius, gracilis, posterior tibialis, gastrocnemius, and soleus.)  These muscles impact the balance of the pelvis and can subsequently cause low back pain. Left unremedied, this unbalance can travel up the spine, generating mid back, upper back, shoulder, and even neck pain.

Sleep is often disturbed by adrenal fatigue. The imbalance of cortisol production makes falling asleep and staying asleep difficult.  Lack of quality REM sleep has long been known to impact pain levels negatively.

Learn more symptoms of adrenal fatigue here.

Check back next month for part two of the Psychosomatic Pain article. 


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Cold Laser Therapy and Pain

Cold lasers are becoming more commonly implemented for pain management on a personal level and in alternative medicine and pain management offices.  These lasers interact with photo receptors in your cells to decrease inflammation and encourage tissues repair in injured areas.

Cold lasers penetrate through the upper layers of skin to reach their target area and stimulate mitochondria.  They may be useful in reducing pain and stimulating healing, which makes them a valuable asset to any pain or injury management regimen.

Find some more great information about cold lasers here;
Integrity Chiropractic 
ColdLasers.Org

{Sources: Coldlasers.org, Spine-Health, Integrity Chiropractic}


*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Promoting Spinal Disc Health

{Source}

 Maybe you’re one of many who suffer from herniated/bulging discs or nerve impingement that cause you pain.  Maybe you’re just trying to be preemptive in avoiding future problems.  Either way, there are certain steps you can take to encourage spinal disc health

1.  Aerobic and Resistance Exercise.  Even something as simple as taking a brisk 20 minute walk 3-4 days a week can promote spinal health.

2.  Supplements.  Supplements like Vitamin C, Glucosamine and Magnesium can help promote bone and disc health as well as decreasing inflammation, which promotes back pain.

3.  Weight.  Excessive body weight strains the back and encourages bulging discs.

4.  Posture.  Poor posture puts undue stress on the spine, encouraging pain and herniation.

5.  Proper Alignment. A visit to a chiropractor will ensure that your spine is properly aligned, and that your discs are given proper space to function, as well as discouraging nerve impingement.

These are a few simple ways you can do your best to keep yourself healthy and pain free!  However, if you’re experiencing back pain, keeping Sore No More on hand is an excellent way to manage it naturally!

{Sources; Spine-Health, Livestrong, Dr. Weil Blog}

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

The Most Commons

Pain comes in all shapes and sizes and with many reasons. Below you'll find some of the most common injuries and causes of pain.

-Knee injuries are the most common disabling ski injury {source}

-Ankle and foot sprains are the most common hiking injury {source}

-150,000 people will injure themselves closing a car door each year. {source}

 -Spinal cord injuries are most commonly caused by automobile accidents. {source}

-The most common cause of rotator cuff pain is age related degeneration. {source}

-The most common type of chronic pain is back pain. {source}

-Stress is the most common headache trigger {source}

-Ladders and stools are the most common cause of home-based injuries. {source}

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Eat Your Arthritis Away

 It is well understood that what you put into your body can have a positive or negative impact on your health.  Different fresh foods can help with a variety of health problems including that which ails many of our customers, arthritis.  The following are a few food items that may help combat arthritis pain.

 Cabbage- Eat three or more times a week, preferably in raw form to maintain vital nutrients.   
Added bonus: Also helps protect against colds

Ginger- Use to spice foods or make into a tea a few times a week.  Fresh ginger has the greatest health benefits.
Added bonus: Stimulates digestion

Flax Seed- 2-3 tablespoons per day.  It's best to get whole flax seeds and store them in the fridge, grind them up so that your body can absorb the nutrients.  They can be added to cereals, salads and baked goods for an added nutritional punch and they are full of healthful oils.
Added bonus: Lowers levels of bad cholesterol.


Other foods that may help combat arthritis pain: cherries, 'fatty' fish, garlic, lettuce, orange and turmeric.

Consider adding some of these foods and see if your arthritis pain decreases.

*Information taken from the book 'The Very Best Healing Foods' by Rachel Fontaine.  Sore No More is in no way affiliated with this book and has not been compensated in any way for its use in this article*

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

5 Ways To Manage Your Pain TODAY!

Chronic pain can be a real motivational drain.  It can impact your desire to get out of bed in the morning, your inclination to exercise and even distract from daily tasks like work or household chores.  Sometimes you can't even get yourself to do the things you know will help.

The following are five simple things that you can do in the next hour to make your pain a little more bearable and your outlook a little brighter.

1. Take a Hot Shower or Bath.  While you're in there, don't think about what you should be doing instead, try not to focus on your body hurting.  Just enjoy the feeling of the hot water relaxing your muscles.  Bonus: Add 1 tablespoon of Sore No More to your bath for extra pain relief.  Extra credit: This is a great time to do some guided meditation (you can purchase CDs for this, find many options on the web, or download an iPhone app such as Stitcher that will allow you to search for meditation podcasts.

2.  Stretch.  Stretching is one of those things many people avoid doing when their body hurts, but it is SO helpful.  As soon as you step out of the bath/shower, do a few stretches.  Stretch your target areas that hurt the most.  Remember, if the pain increases when you stretch you are going too far.  Be gentle with yourself. Bonus: Do some breathing exercises while you stretch.  Extra Credit: Going for a walk later in the day will make you feel even better.

3. Look at Yourself In the Mirror and Smile.  Smiling automatically increases endorphin production, which will make you feel better.  Bonus: Give yourself a compliment. Improving your mental state will make doing the things you need to do to feel more manageable.  Extra Credit:  Watch a funny movie later in the day!

4.  Make a list.  People with chronic pain often feel that they have heard it all. Compartmentalizing all of the information you've received from friends, doctors and the internet can be a challenge.  Sit down and make a list of all of the things that you've heard might help your condition.  Bonus: Cross off the items that you're not interested in/don't believe in. Put stars next to the ones you'd be willing to try and select one or two that you actively want to start working on...highlight those.  Extra Credit: Get started today! Take the first step toward a new pain  management plan.

5.  Do Some Research.  Have you been meaning to try out a new yoga class, find a chiropractor or ask a friend about her massage therapist? Maybe someone mentioned a supplement that you wanted to get more information on?  Get online and do some research.  Bonus:  Maybe this is one of the things on your list!  Extra Credit:  Call and set up an appointment/consultation or sign up for a class.

Now you're well on your way to having a happier, healthier, pain-free day (and life!)



*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

The Vitamin D and Pain Connection

You may recall our past post on how sunlight can help with chronic pain.  Amongst its other benefits, sunlight allows your body to produce vitamin D.  Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency can cause more chronic pain and even suggest that Fibromyalgia may have its roots there.  

While fifteen minutes of sunlight a day is enough to get your required amount of vitamin D, sometimes even fifteen minutes can be hard to manage.  Vitamin D supplements are available in both capsule and liquid form.

The following articles discuss vitamin D deficiency and its relation to chronic pain.

Chronic Pain Linked To Low Vitamin D

Mayo Clinic Researchers Link Vitamin D and Chronic Pain Relief


Vitamin D for Chronic Pain Syndromes

Lack of Vitamin D Linked To Pain




*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

The Many Uses for Sore No More!

There are many instances in which Sore No More can help relieve pain.  The following are just a few ideas, many of which you may have thought of your used Sore No More for in the past, and perhaps even a few that you hadn’t considered.

-On sore muscles after exercise.
-On arthritic joints.
-Applied to wrists under a wrist brace while working at any repetitive task (knitting/computer/etc) to alleviate carpal tunnel.
-2 tablespoons in a tub of warm water to relieve Fibromyalgia pain
- Applied to the jaw to relieve TMJ (temporomandibular joint) discomfort
-On temples and neck to combat tension headaches.
-Applied to feet after a long day of standing (try applying Sore No More, then putting a pair of socks on and then slide into your favorite slippers.)
-On your low back and gluts to combat sciatic pain.  
-After doing contrast therapy on afflicted muscles.  (Contrast therapy is the process of alternating ice and heat.  You should always begin and end with ice to decrease inflammation, not exceeding 10 minutes.)  *Do Not apply Sore No More BEFORE contrast therapy.  The active ingredients may react to more drastic temperatures, causing discomfort and skin irritation!*
-On your pets. (Sore No More is not tested for animal use, but many of our customers have had
favorable results using Sore No More to combat pain in their furry friends. Use Sore No More on your pets at your own discretion.)
-Before bed so you sleep more easily.
-When you wake up in the morning, so you can start your day pain free!

These are just a few ideas about how Sore No More can help you.  If you have any further suggestions, please feel free to comment on our Facebook Page or leave a comment on this post! 

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com

Five Ways To Combat TMJ Pain

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is, to put it in most basic terms, your jaw joint.  It is the hinged joint that allows you to open and close your mouth.  Many people suffer from pain in this joint.  There can be a variety of contributing factors and it can be beneficial to see your dentist and/or chiropractor to see about permanent solutions if you suffer from chronic TMJ pain or discomfort.   

Until then, here are five tips to help you combat TMJ pain.  

1.  Use Sore No More.  Sore No More has been remarkably effective for some of our customers who suffer from chronic TMJ pain.  Apply some over the jaw joint and also down the sternocleidomastoid muscle (along the side of your neck.)  

2. Stretch.  Gently open and close your mouth, do not cause yourself excessive pain and discomfort. Do this ten times. Stretch your neck by tilting your right ear toward your right shoulder until you feel a stretch and then holding for ten seconds.  Repeat on the left side.  Do this three times per side.  It’s important to remember that the muscles in your neck can directly effect your TMJ pain.

3.  Apply a heating pad to your jaw/neck.  This will relax the muscles and decrease pain. Follow by applying an ice pack for five minutes.

4.  Relax.  Find ways to relax and decompress before bed. Many people experience TMJ pain because they grind or clench their teeth while they sleep. This is less likely to happen if you fall asleep in a relaxed state.  

5. Massage.  Sometimes light massage over the TMJ can relax the muscles and decrease pain.  Follow it up by massaging the muscles of the neck.  Finding a good massage therapist who knows acupressure points on the cheeks and jaw can help combat pain.  

TMJ problems can wear down the joint and can also have a negative impact on your tooth and gum health, so make sure to get TMJ problems assessed and taken care of by a professional as soon as possible!

*Sore No More! is not a licensed physician. All information on this blog is researched by our staff and is subject to inaccuracies. No information found here should be used in the place of advice from your doctor. * Sore No More 150 East Center Street Moab, Utah 84532 Tel: (435) 259-5931 Toll Free: (800) 842-6622 www.sorenomore.com