Staying active with pain

(ARA) - For many Americans living with pain, getting regular exercise is nearly impossible. The burning, shooting pain and tingling sensation of pain can make it difficult to stand or walk to the car, let alone exercise five times a week.

"I had burning and pain on the pads just behind my toes. I couldn't feel anything when walking and I couldn't bend my toes. Pain like that is especially difficult because it never really goes away," says Janet Brown, who suffers from pain associated with diabetes. "Especially as a diabetic, I know it's important to get regular exercise, but it just wasn't possible because it hurt to use my feet at all."

But relief is available for those whose exercise regimens are cut short because of pain. Over-the-counter topical pain relievers, such as Neuragen, offer relief for sufferers of pain.

Available in the U.S. and Canada, Neuragen is a homeopathic drug that can be applied at the site of pain. More than 70 per cent of people who use it experience pain relief, and one out of two of those people benefit from a marked level of pain relief - a reduction in pain of half or better. Usually pain reduction happens within 30 minutes of application.

"Suddenly the pain was gone and I could bend my toes again," adds Brown.

Exercising doesn't always mean a gym membership or regular running. Here are some other ways to build exercise into your life:

Go for a walk.

If the weather is bad, go for a walk at an indoor location, like a shopping mall. If you need extra motivation, join a walking group.

Create a home gym.

You can set up a great workout routine with just a set of dumbells, an exercise ball and a jump rope.

Get up and dance.

Put on some music and dance in your living room.

Take the stairs.

If you have stairs near you, spend as little as 20 minutes at a time climbing up and down for an intense and efficient workout. Try taking the stairs to and from your office for a daily dose of activity.

Pool your resources.

Find a local pool and try swimming, water aerobics or even just walking or running laps in the water.

Visit a library.

Many libraries offer workout videos you can check out for free. Choose a new one each week to keep your exercise routine interesting.

"For people who use Neuragen, it's like they've gotten a piece of their life back. They want to get out and be active again," says Dr. Alex MacLellan, a Halifax-based naturopathic physician. "I recommend patients look for fun ways to build exercise into their life."

More information about pain and how to deal with it is available at www.neuragen.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent