If you have joint discomfort, you most likely think about it throughout the day. It might be difficult not to think about how moving or placing weight on an injured joint can cause you pain.
When certain motions give you discomfort, it’s easy to reorganize your life to avoid them, even if it means foregoing activities you used to like. Your joint discomfort, however, does not have to be a lifelong problem. You may manage your arthritis in a variety of ways.
The actions you do on a daily basis to control your disease and stay healthy are referred to as “self-management” methods and activities. That is precisely what we are going to discuss today in this article pain management doctors will help you lessen symptoms and pain relief so you can go back to doing the things you like.
These tactics can even assist you in managing other chronic diseases. So, let’s get into it and understand how you can make your life easier and manage your joint pain.
- Keep Moving and Stay Active:Physical activity is an easy, efficient, and non-drug method of relieving arthritis pain. Physical activity can help individuals with arthritis to reduce pain, enhance function, happiness, and quality of life. Physical activity regularly can also lower your chances of getting other chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
If you already have certain conditions, it can help you manage them. Stay as active and energetic as your health allows, and adjust your degree of exercise based on your arthritis symptoms. Some kind of physical exercise is way better than none at all. - You Can Use Topical Pain Medication:If your pain is in joints nearer to the skin’s surface (such as your hands and knees), topical medications with active compounds such as capsaicin (which decrease your nerve cells’ power to send pain messages), salicylates, and counterirritants such as menthol and camphor, which create hot and cold sensations, may provide some relief.
- Use Hot or Cold Treatments:Heat or cold therapies may help relieve symptoms based on the problem causing your joint discomfort. Use a heating pad, a hot soak in the tub, or a steamy shower to relieve aching joints.
These are low-cost but effective muscle relaxants that can be especially beneficial for illnesses that cause “morning stiffness” of the knees and joints, such as psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Some people may benefit from an ice pack or a cold bath to relieve joint pain since cool temperatures decrease inflammation and lessen intense pain. - Eat a Balanced and Healthy Diet:A diet containing lots of fresh fruits, veggies, and whole foods can help strengthen your immune system and improve your general health. There is some proof that food habits can have an impact on patients with RA and OA. A plant-based diet contains antioxidants, which assist in decreasing inflammation by removing free radicals from the body.
A diet high in red meat, packaged foods, saturated fat, added sugar, and salt, on the other hand, may increase arthritis-related inflammation. These foods can also lead to other health problems, such as obesity, blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and other difficulties, so they’re probably not suitable for those with arthritis. - Get Regular Massages:Massage can give you a general sensation of well-being. It may also aid in the relief of joint pain and stiffness. Massage is not currently recommended by most doctors since there is insufficient data to show that it works. On the contrary, massage is unlikely to pose a danger and may give indirect advantages such as stress reduction.
Request a referral from your doctor for a massage therapist who has expertise in treating individuals with arthritis. You might also ask a physical therapist to show you how to self-massage. - Manage Your Weight:It is very crucial for individuals with arthritis to lose extra weight and maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight decreases pressure on joints, especially weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees, in those who are overweight or obese.
In fact, decreasing as little as 10 to 12 pounds can help individuals with arthritis improve their pain and function. Low-impact, arthritis-friendly physical exercise (such as walking) and dietary adjustments can promote weight loss at any age. - Have a Good Sleeping Schedule: There is no doubt about it: Getting sufficient sleep is critical for your health, and sleep deprivation can raise your risk of depression, obesity, diabetes, and other conditions. Getting a full night’s sleep, on the other hand, is more difficult for people who suffer from chronic joint discomfort.
To reduce nocturnal discomfort, physicians advise sleeping on the correct mattress (for back, hip, and knee pain exercises, that’s typically a firm one) and selecting a pain treatment that will last until morning. It’s also critical to practice appropriate sleep hygiene to make your nighttime routine consistent and peaceful. - Protect Your Joints: Arthritis can be triggered or worsened by joint injury. Choose joint-friendly activities such as walking, biking, and swimming. These low-impact movements pose little danger of injury and do not twist or place undue strain on the joints. Joint injuries sustained in sports or at work might raise the risk of developing osteoarthritis.
To lessen the probability of developing or worsening osteoarthritis, take actions to limit or prevent joint injuries, such as wearing protective gear and limiting repetitive motion joint injury.
Final Thoughts:
Arthritis has no cure, although it may be treated and controlled. Medication, non-drug treatments such as physiotherapy or health care, and, in some instances, surgery are used as treatments. It is critical to manage arthritis symptoms to lessen pain, avoid or postpone impairment, and enhance the overall quality of life. Seeing a skilled doctor at Orthocure might also help you learn how to manage joint discomfort effectively.
