In today’s world, people are always on the go, in order to keep up with the fast pace of these times. Joint pain, in such cases, can be very distressing as it can result in significant morbidity and limitation of movement. There are a number of reasons which are responsible for causing joint pain. However, the majority of cases are of osteoarthritis. A disease that causes degeneration of cartilage present in the joints.
Its prevalence is increasing across the globe in the adult population, particularly in people over 40 years of age. There are various factors involved ranging from age, weight, activity, genetics, etc. It can affect several joints, while the knee joint is most commonly involved.
The pain can range from mild to severe. In severe cases, it might cause a variable degree of disability. Nevertheless, with the advancement of medical sciences, it is now possible to manage joint pain effectively without any invasive treatments.
Following are Some Tips and Methods
Medication
First and foremost, it is very important to consult a doctor on discovering your symptoms to get an accurate diagnosis and hence, the best hip pain treatment strategies. There are multiple drugs available now which a patient suffering from arthritis can benefit from. One of the popular and hugely successful drugs being glucosamine sulfate. It helps in maintaining the health of cartilage and providing comfort.
Other than that, painkillers (eg. NSAIDs) and corticosteroids can also be used for pain relief. Some topical gels and ointments are also available which retard the pain transmission from the joint. It is of utmost importance to take your medicines on time and in the doses recommended by your doctor. Over or under medication can be harmful or useless, respectively.
Exercise
Along with medication, it is essential to maintain an active lifestyle. Daily exercise not just increases the flexibility of your joints, it also provides strength which ultimately helps in achieving the full range of motion of the joint involved. According to recent research, hydrotherapy and swimming also show promising results in easing joint pain. Yoga is also found to be beneficial in many patients.
One should figure out an exercise plan considering their interest and preferences. A trained physiotherapist can be an excellent help in guiding you in the right direction. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to avoid high-impact exercises such as running, jumping, etc. Repetitive motions can also harm your joints by putting continuous strain on a single joint.
Diet
The combination of a healthy diet and exercise is fundamental in managing joint pain. Through alterations in your diet, you can try reducing your weight. This will decrease the pressure on the weight-bearing joints, contributing to recovery. You can also incorporate more and more anti-inflammatory items into your diet (eg. garlic, turmeric, etc). These will help slow down the damage to your joints. Increasing the use of fruits and vegetables is also advantageous. Similarly, decrease the use of foods rich in sugar, especially sugary drinks and processed food with high-fat content.
Massages
A massage from time to time can improve the vascularity of your joints and also soothe the pain. Hot and cold therapy is also getting much acclaim for providing adequate analgesia. It refers to alternating use of heat pads and ice packs over time. Be careful with the handling of heating pads as it might cause burns. Do not use ice directly, wrap it in a towel first. Also, use it for short intervals only i.e. 20 minutes at a time.
Lifestyle Changes
Dealing with pain in your daily life can be a handful. It not only deteriorates your physical health but also influences your mental health. It is important to reduce stress in your life as it can fuel further joint pain by the release of hormones (cortisol).
You can try mindful meditation and taking rest whenever needed. Remember to ask for help from your friends or family or a professional if the extra stress gets harder to bear. Indulging in your creative interests and keeping a track of your thoughts/emotions can also aid in relaxing.
In addition to this, a couple of other therapies are grabbing attention as well. These include acupuncture, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, TENS, stem cell therapy, etc. Albeit not common, the outcomes have been encouraging. With more studies being conducted, there are now a variety of non-invasive methods available to combat joint pain, meanwhile lessening the troubles of people suffering from it
