How to Reduce Arthritis Pain: Do’s and Don’ts

When something is not right in the body, you receive signals. These signals do not just indicate the pain itself but also the amount of stress the body is under. While chronic pain can be debilitating for anyone and significantly affects the quality of life, it can be managed. Are you wondering how to reduce arthritis pain: do’s and don’ts? Then you are in the right place.

Arthritis happens to be a leading cause of disability and pain around the world. You will find plenty of advice about easing this pain and other symptoms and conditions with exercise, medication, and stress reduction. However, the real question is: how do you know what will work for you?

The Fundamentals

Regardless of your present condition, you should be able to stay ahead of arthritis pain if you do the following;

• Gather as much information as you can about your condition, including the type of arthritis you are afflicted with and whether any of your joints are already damaged.
• Rely on a doctor from Clinica Medica Samaritana, friends, and family members to help you manage the pain.
• Consult a specialist if the pain changes.

Daily Routines

Pay attention to your joints when you are sitting, standing, or engaging in any kind of physical activity. Here are a few other things to do;

• Keep moving. If you do not move the affected joints, things will get worse. Do gentle stretches every day, ensuring full range of motion.
• Maintain proper posture. A physical therapist can show you the right way of sitting, standing, and moving correctly.
• Recognize your limits. You need to strike a proper balance between rest and activity. Never overdo anything.

Lifestyle changes are equally important when it comes to easing pain. To that end,

• Manage your body weight. Being obese can increase arthritis-related complications and contribute to pain. Make incremental, permanent lifestyle changes resulting in gradual weight loss. Our senior care specialists say it is the most effective method of weight management.
• Give up smoking. You may not know this, but smoking exerts stress on the connective tissue, aggravating arthritis pain.

Exercise

When you ask how to reduce arthritis pain: do’s and don’ts, there will always be an exercise routine. Those with arthritis can benefit immensely from performing certain exercises. Doing certain low-intensity, movement-focused workouts can decrease your pain and stiffness, improve range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and increase your endurance.

Things to Do

Now, as an arthritis patient, you need to pick the right kinds of activities – the ones that build the muscles around the joints without damaging or straining the joints themselves. An occupational therapist or physical therapist can help you develop an appropriate exercise program suited to your condition and abilities.

Prioritize stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and gradual progressive strength training. Include low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling, or water exercises to enhance your mood and help control your body weight.

Things to Avoid

Our senior care experts point out a few activities you must avoid at all costs if you have arthritis. These include;

• Running
• Jumping
• Tennis
• High-intensity aerobics
• Any strenuous exercise that involves repetitive movements

What About Medications?

Many types of medications are available for arthritis pain relief, and most are relatively safe for consumption. Unfortunately, none of those drugs are entirely free of side effects. Speak with your doctor to create a medication plan based on your specific pain symptoms.

Things to Do

OTC medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others), or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve occasional pain triggered by activity your muscles and joints are not familiar with.

Topicals containing capsaicin can be applied to the skin over a painful joint to relieve pain. Use it alone or with orally consumable medication.

Contact your doctor if these OTC medications do not relieve your pain.

Things to Avoid

• Overtreatment is never an option. Speak with your doctor if you find yourself using OTC pain-relieving drugs regularly.
• Undertreatment is not worthwhile, either. Never ignore severe and prolonged arthritis pain. You might have joint inflammation or damage requiring daily medication.
• Never focus only on the pain. Depression is quite a common disorder among folks with arthritis. Doctors have found that treating depression with antidepressants and other therapies reduces depression symptoms, along with the pain of arthritis.

Physical and Emotional Integration

It is not surprising that arthritis has a negative effect on the mood of a patient. If daily chores become painful, you are bound to feel discouraged. The pain might get worse and harder to manage when these normal feelings escalate and create a constant refrain or fearful, hopeless thoughts.

Things to Do

There are therapies that can interrupt destructive body-mind interactions. These include;

• Cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-studied, effective combo of talk therapy and behavior modification. It can help identify and possibly break cycles of self-defeating actions and thoughts.
• Relaxation therapy involves meditating, doing yoga, deep breathing, listening to music, being in nature, writing in a journal, etc. You should do whatever makes you feel relaxed. Relaxation does not have a downside, and it can help ease the pain.
• Acupuncture has proven to be effective for a lot of people. A trained acupuncturist inserts hair-thin needles at specific points on an individual’s body. However, it can take several weeks for you to notice improvement.
• Use heat. Consider applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax. These tactics can help relieve pain temporarily. Just be careful not to burn yourself in the process. You can also use cold. Apply ice packs to sore muscles to relieve pain and inflammation after strenuous workouts.
• Massaging might improve pain and stiffness temporarily. If you work with a massage therapist, make sure to tell them where the arthritis affects you.

Things to Avoid

• Those who are addicted to tobacco, often use it as an emotional coping tool. Unfortunately, it is counterproductive. The toxins present in cigarette smoke cause stress on connective tissue, resulting in more joint problems.
• Never drown yourself in negative thoughts because they are self-perpetuating. The longer you dwell on them, the more they will escalate, increasing your pain and risk of disability. Instead, participate in activities you enjoy, spend time with folks who support you, and talk to a therapist.

Closing Thoughts

Being one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in the world, arthritis can ruin your life. Thankfully, the condition is manageable. You asked how to reduce arthritis pain: do’s and don’ts. We have given you an all-inclusive list of things to do and things to avoid.

Arthritis pain management requires balancing medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes so you can feel your best as much and as often as possible. If you need an expert’s opinion, consult a fracture care specialist from Samaritana Medical Clinic, where quality healthcare is personalized for a patient before it is offered.

FAQs

Q1. Can diet play a role in reducing arthritis pain?

A1. Yes, an anti-inflammatory diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, and vegetables can help reduce joint inflammation and ease arthritis pain.

Q2. Are there specific sleeping positions that help with arthritis pain?

A2. Yes, sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees or on your side with a pillow between your legs can reduce joint strain.

Q3. How does hydration impact arthritis symptoms?

A3. Staying hydrated helps keep joints lubricated, reducing stiffness and discomfort. Dehydration can worsen inflammation, making arthritis symptoms more noticeable.

Q4. Can weight loss significantly reduce arthritis pain?

A4. Yes, losing even 5-10% of body weight can relieve joint pressure, particularly on weight-bearing areas like the knees and hips.

Q5. Is stress management important for arthritis relief?

A5. Yes, chronic stress increases cortisol levels, which can worsen joint inflammation. Practicing meditation, deep breathing, or relaxation techniques can help manage arthritis pain.

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