In 2015, an estimated 91 million adults were diagnosed with arthritis. Arthritis is a draining condition that can affect your mobility and how you sleep, work, and play. But the right treatment plan can help you manage your symptoms and get back to living pain-free. Here are some tips for finding treatment for your arthritis pain.
Find a Doctor Who Will Listen
The first step in finding relief is to consult your doctor to help you find a treatment strategy that works. Together, you’ll want to examine your lifestyle and habits and the physical aspects of your daily life that might be contributing to your arthritis pain and find suitable treatments for your arthritis.
Some of The Best Treatments for Arthritis Include:
Exercise.
Aerobic exercise improves cardiovascular fitness, enhances your ability to use oxygen, and increases lung capacity. Aerobic exercise does not necessarily improve muscle strength or joint function, but it provides cardiovascular benefits, essential for those with arthritis. Strength training helps improve muscle strength and endurance. Some forms of strength training can even help reduce joint pain from arthritis. Work with your doctor or physical therapist to develop an exercise program that is safe for you.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress on your joints, and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to fight disease. Eat vegetables, fruits (especially citrus), whole grains, beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and lean organic meat or fish. Add Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), which have strong anti-inflammatory properties.
Heat and Cold Packs
The Arthritis Foundation recommends using heat and cold packs on painful joints. To use a heat pack, you will need something like a hot water bottle or an electric pad easily heated. Place this on your wrist or hand for around 15 minutes, and it will help to soothe the pain. You can also use cold packs by placing an ice pack on the area for about 10 minutes. If you don’t have any special packs, you could also try using a bag of frozen peas instead.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to relieve pain and increase mobility for people with arthritis by releasing natural chemicals called endorphins that block pain signals from reaching your brain. It’s also used to treat other chronic or recurring pain conditions such as back pain or headaches.
Joint Replacements
You may need surgical procedures or joint replacement if other treatments don’t relieve pain from osteoarthritis. These procedures are usually recommended only when the disease affects your ability to function normally. The most common type of joint replacement is the total hip or knee replacement. Joint replacement surgery can relieve pain and improve function in severely damaged joints. Contact us for help finding the best treatment for you.