How to relief pain?

Pain relief may involve pressure, tailored movement, heat or cold, medication considerations, red light or sunlight, and self-hypnosis.

1. Pressure above or below the painful area: Rubbing or applying pressure nearby can activate touch pathways that inhibit pain signaling. Avoid touching or pressing in a way that could worsen an injury. 1

2. Movement suited to the pain: Some movement can reduce pain, but avoid activity that aggravates an injury. For certain lower-back pain, the medial-glute exercise described may help; stop if it increases pain. 2 3 4

3. Heat or cold: Heat may improve blood and fluid flow through an injured area. Cold can numb pain temporarily, but the discussion cautions that it may slow tissue-fluid movement; use warmth only at a non-damaging temperature. 5

4. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs: These can reduce pain and inflammation, but reducing inflammation may not always be desirable early in healing. Discuss medication choices and side effects with a clinician, especially if NSAIDs cause stomach problems. 6 7

5. Red light or sunlight: Red-light therapy may have potential for chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, but the evidence is still uncertain; sunlight may provide similar effects in some cases. 8

6. Self-hypnosis: Self-hypnosis may change how pain is experienced and has been described as a tool for acute and chronic pain, including fibromyalgia. 9