Weight Lifting When You Have Joint Pain May Sound Like A Bad Idea But Its Actually An Important Way To Manage And Relieve Arthritis Pain
One word: good. Weight lifting when you have arthritis is very good, in fact, and heres why. Weight lifting is a form of strength training that helps keep your muscles strong and strong muscles support your joints.
What lifting weights wont do is make your arthritis worse. Muscle-building exercises are an important part of your arthritis management plan, and your doctor will recommend it, whether you have osteoarthritis or an autoimmune, inflammatory form such as rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
Think of your joints like a plant sapling , says Karen Sutton, MD, associate attending orthopedic surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Saplings needs strings around them to help them grow straight and strong just as joints need muscles and ligaments around them for support and stability. If you dont have enough muscle, joints take a pounding. But as muscles become engaged and strengthen, they absorb some of the force, which takes pressure off weaker, worn-put joints, explains Dr. Sutton, who is also fellow with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. That shift can translate to a decrease in arthritis symptoms and improvement in day-to-day function.
Changes In Surrounding Joints
In patients with advanced thumb base arthritis, the neighboring joints may become more mobile than normal.
Thumb extension deformity. This patient has lost mobility at the base of the thumb due to arthritis. The next joint closer to the tip of the thumb has become more mobile than normal to make up for the arthritic joint. Normally, the thumb does not come to a right angle with the rest of the hand.
Q: Which Will Work Better For My Painful Arthritic Joints Heat Or Cold
A: Applying heat or cold to a painful area is a simple, inexpensive method for relieving pain. Cold reduces swelling and numbs the area. Heat loosens up muscles, increases flexibility and increases circulation. For an acute injury, such as a pulled muscle or injured tendon, the usual recommendation is to start by applying ice to reduce inflammation and dull pain. Once inflammation has gone down, heat can be used to ease stiffness.
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For a chronic pain condition, such as osteoarthritis, heat seems to work best. However, some people find that cold also helps to dull the pain.
So whats the answer? Try them both and use whichever works best for you.
Exercise is an important part of treatment for osteoarthritis. Heat and cold can also be used to make exercising a little easier. Try using heat before exercise to loosen up muscles and cold afterward to minimize any achiness.
For heat, soak in a warm bath, hot tub or whirlpool for about 20 minutes. Or take a warm shower. Dress warmly afterward to prolong the benefit. A heating pad is another good way to warm up an area. You can also buy moist heat pads. Or, heat a damp washcloth in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Test it to make sure its not too hot. Wrap it in a dry towel and apply it to the painful area.
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Stop Avoiding Mobility Aids
A cane, walker, or wheelchair may be necessary for some people with arthritis to stay independent and get around on their own. Understandably it can be tough to think about needing some sort of mobility aid, but if you do need one and don’t use it you risk missing out on things you would enjoy.
A cane or wheelchair doesn’t define who you are, and no one will judge you or think less of you for using one. In fact, you’ll probably be admired for getting out there and having fun in spite of needing a little help.
Hand And Foot Procedures For Advanced Oa
While the knee and hip are arguably the most disabling sites of osteoarthritis, hand and foot OA are the most prevalent. Advanced osteoarthritis in these sites can lead to considerable pain and functional limitation. We will briefly discuss orthopedic approaches to OA of the first carpal-metacarpal joint , wrist and ankle OA, and OA of the first tarsal-metatarsal joint of the foot.
Advanced destruction of the trapezio-metacarpal joint is a frequent source of pain, deformity and functional limitation. When conservative measures including activity modification, splinting, NSAIDs and injections fail to control symptoms, surgery is a reasonable alternative. The standard procedure is a trapeziectomy, with or without the interposition of a tendon or other graft, and with or without ligamentous reconstruction. This surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis and has high rates of success with few complications. Over 90% of surgically treated patients experience pain relief. 61, 62 Multiple techniques exist which demonstrate good alleviation of pain and improvement of function. These serve to address degenerative changes and instability at the thumb carpometacarpal joint, the scaphotrapezial joint, and the scaphotrapezoidal joint, as necessary. There is no clear best technique based on extensive literature, thus surgeon training and preference play a large role in deciding which technique to perform.
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Stop Withholding Info From Your Healthcare Provider
It’s tempting not to tell your healthcare provider everything, especially if you’re afraid you’ll have to go through unpleasant testing or have to change the treatment regimen you’re comfortable with.
But in order for your healthcare provider to have the best chance of helping you, he needs to know everything. Talk openly about what makes your condition better or worse, what concerns you have, and what you don’t understand.
Stop Ignoring Your Physical Limitations
Just as there are people with arthritis who aren’t active at all, there are those who push beyond their limits. The trick is to pace your activities. Overdoing it is just as harmful as underdoing it.
Pushing your limits can increase pain and put you at higher risk of joint damage. Respect pain and choose activities with your physical limitations in mind.
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Use Hot And Cold Therapy
Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation.
- Heat treatments can include taking a long, warm shower or bath in the morning to help ease stiffness and using an electric blanket or moist heating pad to reduce discomfort overnight.
- Cold treatments can help relieve joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. Wrap a gel ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to painful joints for quick relief. Never apply ice directly to the skin.
- Capsaicin, which comes from chili peppers, is a component of some topical ointments and creams that you can buy over the counter. These products provide warmth that can soothe joint pain.
Choose From These Activities
Stronger muscles also help you with balance to prevent falls. Being stronger can give you more energy, and help you lose weight and sleep better.
If you will be having surgery, exercising can help you stay strong, which will speed up your recovery. Water exercises may be the best exercise for your arthritis. Swimming laps, water aerobics, or even just walking in the shallow end of a pool all make the muscles around your spine and legs stronger.
Ask your health care provider if you can use a stationary bike. Be aware that if you have arthritis of the hip or knee cap, biking can worsen your symptoms.
If you are not able to do water exercises or use a stationary bike, try walking, as long as it does not cause too much pain. Walk on smooth, even surfaces, such as the sidewalks near your home or inside a shopping mall.
Ask your physical therapist or doctor to show you gentle exercises that will increase your range of motion and strengthen the muscles around your knees.
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What You Can Do Now
If you want to add essential oils to your treatment regimen, be sure to do your research. Essential oils arent regulated by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration . This means that products can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so its important to find a reputable brand.
Essential oils should never be used as a first-line treatment. If you plan to use essential oils be sure to consult your doctor so they can advise you on potential risks. Essential oils are not meant to be swallowed.
If you start to have any unusual side effects, stop use and talk to your doctor. They can help you determine the cause and ensure that youre following the best arthritis management plan.
Looking For More Information On Finger Splints
Our blogs are educational in nature and are not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Because your condition is unique to you, it is recommended that you consult with your health care provider before attempting any medical or therapeutic treatments. We are always happy to answer questions about products mentioned in our blogs, however, we cannot provide a diagnosis or medical advice.
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Tips To Prevent Slips And Falls
Some types of arthritis, especially osteoarthritis in your knees or hips, can make you more likely to fall and break a bone. Dodge recommends these tips to lower your chances of falling at home:
Remove throw rugs. This is extra important if you use a walker or cane, because they can catch on rug edges.
Improve lighting. Make sure your rooms and any staircases are well lit, especially at night. You can buy small lights that shine on steps at any home store that sells lighting.
Have handrails by steps. You probably have one indoors if your home has a second floor. Itâs also a good idea to install a handrail alongside any outdoor steps leading to your home.
Think twice about ladders. Use a stable step stool with a wide base if you need to climb. Ideally it should have a handle to help you balance.
Clean up spills right away. Donât walk on slick surfaces.
Some other safety measures you could consider are:
- For help getting in and out of the bathtub, use an adjustable transfer bench.
- Install grab bars around bathtubs and toilets.
- Use a raised toilet seat if itâs hard for you to sit or to stand back up.
- Place a rubber suction mat or non-skid strips in the shower or tub.
- Pick up any clutter on the floor.
Questions To Ask Yourself
Before deciding whether to have surgery for OA, ask yourself the following questions:
- Can you live with the pain you’re experiencing?
- Do your pain medications have side effects that are difficult for you to deal with?
- Has your pain gotten worse over the past year?
- Have you tried all other treatments?
- Are you healthy enough for surgery?
- Are you committed to the post-recovery process of physical therapy and exercise?
- Will your insurance pay for it?
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Hand Surgery For Arthritis
Get more information about types of hand surgeries that are used in rare cases to treat arthritis in finger joints to relieve pain and repair damage.
Arthritis can take a heavy toll on hands, causing pain, deformity and disability. Yet surgery to repair the damage from hand arthritis is relatively rare. One reason is that finger surgery has a high complication and failure rate. It can also sacrifice mobility for pain relief. The two main surgical options for hand arthritis are fusion and total knuckle replacement .
Types of Hand Surgery
Arthrodesis involves fusing the bones of the joint together, creating a stronger, more stable and essentially pain-free knuckle, but one with little flexibility or movement.
Arthroplasty involves removing the damaged joint and replacing it with an artificial implant. The goal is to relieve pain and restore shape and some function in the hand. However, the results are usually less satisfactory than with hip and knee replacements. One problem is that hinged finger implants don’t fully replicate normal finger motion. Most are made from silicone rubber, which is flexible but breaks and slips easily. Some studies have found that up to 30 percent of silicone implants fail within 10 years, making them a poor choice for younger patients. “Sometimes even the best artificial joint is not as good as a banged-up real joint, so you have to be very careful, notes Jose Ortiz Jr., MD, a hand surgeon at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Possible Benefits Of Surgery
Arthritis is usually a chronic condition and sometimes can lead to disability. However, there are many ways you and your doctor can lessen these problems. One of the ways may be surgery. Joint surgery can offer several benefits: Relief of pain is the most important benefit of joint surgery. Many people with arthritis have constant pain. Some of this pain can be relieved by rest, heat and cold treatments, exercise, splints, and medication. When these therapies don’t lessen the pain, surgery may be considered. Improved movement and use of a joint are also important benefits of joint surgery. Continuous inflammation and the wearing away of bone and cartilage can cause joints, tendons, and ligaments to become damaged or pulled out of place. Losing the use of a joint, such as a hip, knee, hand, elbow or shoulder, can seriously hamper a person’s activities. When this happens, surgery to replace or stabilize the joint may be suggested. An improvement in the appearance of deformed joints, especially in the hand, can be expected with some types of surgery.
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Stop Eating An Unhealthy Diet
What’s your diet got to do with arthritis? Eating well and maintaining your ideal weight is especially important if you’ve got arthritis. Excess pounds can put lots of stress on weight-bearing joints, which is likely to make arthritis pain worse. Even moderate weight gain can stress joints that are already burdened by arthritis.
Are There Different Types Of Finger Arthritis
is the most common type of finger arthritis. OA is also called degenerative joint disease because it is caused by wear and tear on your joints as you age. In OA, the protective tissues in your joints deteriorate with time allowing bare bone to rub on bone. This cause joint pain and swelling.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can also cause finger arthritis. Typically, RA will follow the same pattern in each of your hands and will affect the same joints on both sides.
Other possible causes of finger arthritis include:
- Traumatic arthritis, which occurs after a hand injury
- , which occurs with a skin condition called
- Gout, which most often affects the big toe but can sometimes affect the fingers. involves sudden flare-ups of pain, swelling and redness.
- , which is caused by an infection in the joint
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The Little Finger Is Bent And Cannot Be Straightened
My mother is 51 years old, both of her pinky fingers are bent 1 finger segment and cannot be straightened. X-ray tests have been done but the results are normal , blood tests have been done and the immune results are normal and finally physiotherapy has been done for 14x but the results are still the same finger can not be straightened. In this case, does my mother need to have a CT scan / MRI scan? What specialist doctors can be recommended for what my mother experienced? thanks.
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What Temperature Is Best When Using Heat Therapy For Arthritis
When using moist heat therapy, make sure the temperature is not so hot that you burn your skin. Find a temperature that you can comfortably tolerate, whether using a bath, hot water bottle, or spa therapy.
You also need to give it time to work. Use the moist heat application for at least 15 minutes before exercise. Then use it again immediately following exercise. You can also use moist heat anytime you want additional relief from arthritis pain.
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Which Plastic Surgeries Can Improve Ra
1. Arthroplasty
This is an advanced procedure in which the damaged parts of the finger joints are replaced with silicone prosthetic joints to restore normal function and movement to the fingers while also straightening them and improving their appearance. Multiple fingers can be treated in the same session.
2. Arthroscopy
In this minimally invasive procedure, we remove bone and cartilage fragments that cause inflammation in the joints. The procedure uses small incisions in the fingers, and pain during recovery is usually minimal.
3. Arthrodesis
If a joint cannot be replaced, arthrodesis might be an option. This is a fusion surgery in which the joints are attached and stabilized to restore proper alignment and function.
4. Synovectomy
In this procedure, we remove inflamed tissue in the synovium, or the lining of the joints in the fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, and hips. Synovectomy can help prevent tendon rupture and improve tendon mobility in patients who are diagnosed with early-stage RA.
5. Tendon release surgery
This procedure splits or disconnects ligaments affected by RA to reduce pain and restore movement and function.
6. Tendon transfer surgery
How To Manage Symptoms To Slow Or Halt Ra Joint Damage And Diseaseprogression
Getting on medication right away is the No. 1 thing people can do to improve RA symptoms and stop the disease from progressing. Your doctor should start you on methotrexate, according to guidelines published in July 2021 by the American College of Rheumatology .
If this treatment alone doesnt yield the desired results, biologics should be added, the ACR advises.
There is a window of opportunity at the beginning of the disease when you have the best chance of treating with drugs to stop RA from causing damage and the earlier a person starts aggressive drug therapy, the better, says Dr. Greer.
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