Effective Methods to Relieve Arthritis Pain

Arthritic pain can be very difficult to manage, especially if you aren’t sure of the right methods to alleviate it.

There are many pain relief options out there and other things you can do to relieve arthritis pain.

If you treat arthritis in the early stages it can also be slowed so the pain doesn’t reach a chronic level rapidly so the more you do to look after your body and utilise different methods of pain relief, the more you should feel a reduction in pain levels.

Here are some effective methods for pain relief and management:

Medication

Discuss the medical treatment methods with your doctor. They may suggest pain relief, anti-inflammatory drugs or even steroid injections and this is something you can discuss dependent on your level of pain.

Exercise

Staying active and remaining active throughout your life will help to keep your joints mobile and supple. You should discuss your exercise plan with your doctor, occupational therapist or physiotherapist to ensure you only do things which are in keeping with your strength and also your pain levels. Hydrotherapy may be recommended and stretches to help keep muscles active and joints supple despite the pain and stiffness.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Hot and cold therapy works through providing almost instant relief to the direct symptoms of pain and inflammation. You can use simple ice packs and even bags of frozen vegetables from your freezer, as long as they are not applied directly to your skin, or you can buy specialised items. Instant hot packs and cold packs work on the basis of a chemical reaction within meaning they can be carried and used as and when you need if a flare up occurs and equally a hot water bottle or microwaveable wheat bags.

Weight Management

Being obese and overweight can increase the stress on the joints and this can speed up the progression of your arthritis. Excessive fat and sugar intake can see your weight increase and this will begin to put pressure on your joints. A balanced diet with a decent amount of fruit and vegetables will help ensure you maintain a healthy weight and you can also consider the top foods for helping with the condition.

Arthritis can be extremely painful and so anything you can do to make a difference should be considered carefully. Lifestyle changes as well as considering pain relief and other treatment can help to manage the pain.

If you have any questions about Arthritic pain please contact Dr Stephanie Barrett.