Menopausal Mother

Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall, hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, the two of us are inviting you into our homes to give you a fly's eye view of what goes on behind closed doors. 

That nosy fly felt right at home with us recently on our first RV trip we took over the weekend of June 9. He brought a bunch of his friends, too, but I didn't care because I was having too much fun exploring beautiful Highlands Hammock State Park in Florida. If you know me well, then you already know that RV camping has been on my bucket list for many years. Hubs and I have dreamed of retiring together and hitting the road in a little RV, and we finally took the first step to make that dream come true. 

We rented a fully equipped 24 ft. drivable RV and it was perfect! I'm a very organized person who did my research, so the trip went smoothly and was absolutely the most relaxing vacation I have ever had. In fact, I'd say this trip was a game changer for me and my hubs. We know for sure now that this is the life we want, so we are making future plans to turn this dream lifestyle into a reality. The cool thing is that Hubs will be retiring next year, and I work remotely with my writing job, so I can continue to write anywhere, anytime. 

Many people my age claim to have sudden, mysterious body aches that seem to come out of nowhere. Inflammation, joint pain, sore muscles, and arthritis are common complaints. Fortunately, there are natural pain relievers and anti-inflammatory creams on the market to help with these uncomfortable conditions. 

My husband has suffered from back pain for several years now, mostly due to his outdoor job in landscaping and property maintenance. He used over-the-counter medications for his pain and has even been to chiropractors, but the pain never quite disappeared. Lately, he has been considering acupuncture or  massage therapy But this can get expensive, so now he is mostly interested in natural pain relievers such as turmeric and anti-inflammatory creams. These have offered a certain amount of relief for his back pain and are far more cost-effective. He prefers products with natural ingredients that do not contain carcinogens/poisons and ones that have not been tested on animals. 

Although I don't have the same degree of inflammation or joint pain that my husband experiences, there have been times after my cardio workouts when I feel soreness in my knees or upper arms. If my muscles start to hurt, I simply soak in a warm bath or apply anti-inflammatory cream to the areas that bother me. 

Of course, there are other options that help relieve pain that include relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, and meditation There are also pain management programs available if the pain is chronic. My advice would be to get enough rest, eat a healthy diet, and incorporate gentle exercises into your daily routine. It's also a good idea to distract yourself with activities you enjoy, whether it's knitting, cooking, journaling or reading, etc. 

The idea here is to begin with natural alternatives to reduce pain and inflammation without the use of prescription medication---if possible. But first, do your research and consult with your physician to find out what pain relief method is best for you!

***Disclaimer: This blog post is in partnership with Responsival.