How To Prevent Arthritis Pain

Arthritis And Water Exercise

Warm water exercise is particularly helpful if you have arthritis or another musculoskeletal condition, because your body is supported and the resistance provided by moving through water builds muscle strength and endurance.

Water exercise involves exercising in a pool, usually heated, and may also be called hydrotherapy. There are several ways you can exercise in water. The most suitable type of water exercise for you depends on a number of factors such as:

• the type of arthritis you have
• how your arthritis affects you
• your fitness level
• your confidence in the water
• your personal preferences and interests.

The types of water exercise available include:

• hydrotherapy a type of exercise therapy offered by physiotherapists as one-on-one sessions for individuals, or in small groups. Exercises are specific to your condition, injury or situation
• gentle water exercise classes some fitness or recreation centres offer gentle water exercise programs suitable for older adults or people with health conditions such as arthritis. All participants follow the same general exercises in a fun, group environment
• swimming laps at your local pool can also help.

Engage In Physical Activities

Research suggests exercising may help reduce joint pain and improve arthritis in some people.5 Exercising helps release feel-good hormones and can also help you feel relaxed and improve concentration. Exercises such as leg flutter kicks, arm/leg raises, and/or shoulder stretches are easy and can be performed at home.

If you do not like to exercise, performing daily activities that are joint-friendly are also a good way to stay active throughout the day. A few examples include:

• Taking the stairs
• Using a basket for light grocery shopping
• Tending your garden

Who Gets Arthritis In Their Hands

You are more likely to get arthritis in your hands if:

• Youre older. Osteoarthritis is commonly seen after age 50. Rheumatoid arthritis typically first appears between the age of 35 and 50.
• Youre a woman.
• Youre overweight.
• Youve had previous injuries to your hand. If youve dislocated or broken any joints in your hands or fingers, you are more likely to develop arthritis.
• You’ve inherited genes that cause the development of arthritis.

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Preserve Knee Function With Exercise & Changes In Your Lifestyle

Exercise, including water aerobics, strength training, and yoga, can help preserve knee function to ultimately relieve pain and swelling. The same exercises will help you lose weight, lessening the pressure on your knees. Exercise also helps maintain full range of motion in the knee joints, strengthens the muscles supporting the joints, and absorbs shock impacting the joints.

Walking is the most beneficial form of exercise. Its low-impact, and because its a weight-bearing exercise, it helps strengthen muscles and builds bones. Start out slow, gradually increasing your pace and distance for best results. Water exercises or walking in the shallow end of the pool are also great for muscle strength and knee flexibility. Because the body is buoyant in water, it lessens impact to near zero as it makes you work a little harder to move.

What Should I Do If Arthritis Symptoms First Appear

The Arthritis Foundation says there are four important warning signs that may indicate you have arthritis. They include:

• Pain that may be constant or might come and go. It may be in one part of the body or in different areas.
• The skin over an affected joint may become swollen, red or warm when you touch it. Swelling that lasts three days or long over a joint could be a sign of arthritis.
• Stiffness in a joint, when you wake up in the morning or after you sit at a desk or in a car for a long time, could be a sign of arthritis.
• Difficulty moving a joint could indicate arthritis is present.

Arthritis can get steadily worse over time if it is left untreated. Seeking treatment from your physician as soon as possible may help prevent your joints from becoming permanently damaged. It is a good idea to keep a journal to track your symptoms for a few weeks, noting which joints are hurting, when they hurt and for how long they hurt.

The Advanced Orthopaedics Center team can help you get more information about preventing arthritis and can help determine if you have arthritis. Please feel free to contact us.

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Clinical Contributors To This Story

Harlan Levine, M.D. contributes to topics such as Orthopedic Surgery.

Osteoarthritis, also known as wear-and-tear arthritis because it typically affects people middle-aged and older, is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability. It is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 30 million adults in the United States.

Osteoarthritis is especially common in the knee joint. Approximately 14 million individuals in the U.S. have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

In a healthy knee, cartilage serves as a cushion between the bones and provides a smooth surface for movement. As cartilage breaks down, the joint can become painful, swollen and stiff. Eventually, the cartilage can wear away completely, increasing pain and inflammation as the bones rub together.

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Replace High Impact Sports With Low Impact Activities

Some people dont feel like theyre getting a workout unless theyre gasping for breath, but in reality, low impact exercises and activities can provide a great workout without damaging your joint cartilage. High impact sports like running, basketball and football cause wear and tear of cartilage in our joints. Strength training, brisk walking, swimming and yoga are all excellent low impact exercises.

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How To Treat Osteoarthritis

The goals in treating osteoarthritis are to relieve pain and restore function. Brief rest either by changing activities or wearing a splint can help. Soft, snug sleeves can help support a joint when rigid splints are too restrictive. Heat can soothe the joints and help keep them mobile. It is important to keep as much finger motion and function as possible. Hand therapists can teach joint protection exercises and activity modification to help protect joints. Anti-inflammatory medication or a steroid injection into the joint can decrease pain, but neither cures osteoarthritis.

Surgery is considered when the non-surgical options above have not helped. In most cases, you will tell your doctor when you are ready for surgery. The goal is to restore as much function as possible and to minimize your pain. One type of surgery is joint fusion. The worn cartilage is removed and the bones on each side of the joint are fused together, which means that the joint will not move but it will not hurt. Another choice is joint reconstruction, where the rough joint surface is removed and either replaced with your own soft tissue or with an implant. The type of surgery depends on the joint involved, your anatomy, and your activities. Your hand surgeon can help you decide which type of surgery is the best for you.

This content is written, edited and updated by hand surgeon members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Find a hand surgeon near you.

Tips To Ease Joint Pain

Arthritis joint pain and symptoms can make simple activities difficult. This head-to-toe guide can help.

Arthritis pain in even one joint can take a toll on your entire body. For example, a painful neck can prevent you from turning your head properly, placing stress on your shoulders. A painful knee may cause you to walk in a way that affects your hips, back and feet. And holding a joint still to protect it can make moving it more difficult and in some cases almost impossible over time.

If joint pain is caused by an inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic treatment is needed to stop inflammation that can lead to joint damage or destruction. For flares of pain, persistent pain or pain due to other causes, there are many things you can do on your own or ask your doctor or physical therapist about to get relief.

Solutions vary and may include splints, therapeutic exercises or more informal daily modifications at home and beyond. Here are a few suggestions to help ease joint pain head-to-toe:

Neck Pain

Neck pain can make it difficult to look up or turn your head sideways. If you avoid twisting your neck by moving your shoulders or entire body, the surrounding muscles may hurt as much as the joints themselves.

Jaw Pain

The mandible joint can be a frequent source of discomfort, making it painful to bite into a thick sandwich or an apple. Jaw pain is common on the side of the face or just in front of the ear.

Elbow Pain

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Best Supplements For Arthritis

The Arthritis Strategy digital program provides access to detailed lifestyle changes to prevent arthritis flare-ups, but it also aims to educate people on joint health. It targets arthritis from multiple directions, hence its popularity among patients.

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Eat Fish To Reduce Joint Inflammation

Fishespecially salmon, sardines, trout, and mackerelare high in omega-3 fatty acids. One of the numerous benefits of this healthy fat is the ability to reduce inflammation. The US Department of Agriculture recommends eating two servings of fish a week to get enough omega-3s. This could be beneficial if you want to help prevent arthritis. After all, theAnnals of Rheumatic Diseases have found that women who eat fish regularly may lower their risk of developing RA.

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What Is Osteoarthritis Of The Hand

Hand osteoarthritis is inflammation that causes pain and stiffness in your joints. It usually happens in three places:

• The base of your thumb, where it meets your wrist
• One of the joints closest to your fingertips
• The middle joint of a finger

Theres no cure, but there are a lot of ways to protect your joints and feel better.

Without treatment, osteoarthritis gets worse over time. Itâs important to get a diagnosis and a treatment plan as soon as possible.

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We Care About You And Your Pain

At Desert Care Network, we know how hard it can be for people with arthritis to carry out day-to-day tasks such as walking up the stairs or doing moderate to high-intensity exercises. If youre suffering from this condition, the good thing is, our orthopedic physicians in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area are experienced in arthritis pain management, treatment and prevention. We are eager to help you get back the life you deserve.

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Why Choose Desert Care Network

Desert Care Network is a healthcare leader for arthritis pain management and total hip and knee replacements in Palm Springs and Coachella Valley. Desert Regional Medical has received specialty certification from the Joint Commission for its program in Hip Replacement and Knee Replacement. But more than being recognized for its commitment to compassionate care and excellence, we are proud of how we genuinely care about our patients.

Youre not meant to live in pain. Were here for you. Call to start get started.

What Type Of Hand Surgery Is Most Commonly Performed On The Specific Joints Affected By Arthritis

• Base of the thumb: Where your thumb and wrist join. Common surgical options include removing part or all of one of the trapezium bone , tendon transfer or joint fusion.
• Knuckles : Joint replacement is almost always considered for this repair. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause serious damage and disability to your knuckles.
• Second joint of your finger : Osteoarthritis commonly causes stiffness and loss of motion. Joint replacement or fusion are considered for these joints. Because you use these joints frequently, there is a chance your implant could wear out. In this case, your provider may recommend further surgery.
• Top of finger joint : Joint fusion is commonly used to treat arthritis in this joint.

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Correct Your Posture To Avoid Straining Your Joints

Simple tasks such as sitting, working at a computer, and lifting heavy boxes can strain your joints if you have poor posture. Strive to sit with a straight back and neck, dont slouch, create an ergonomic workstation, and lift with your knees, not your back. Take frequent breaks from repetitive activities, and if you have to sit for long periods, get up and stretch every hour.

What Are The Symptoms Of Arthritis In The Hands

Early symptoms include:

• Dull or burning joint pain, appearing hours or a day after increased use of your hands.
• Morning pain and stiffness in your hand.
• Swollen joints in your hand.

If you’ve had arthritis in your hand for some time:

• Symptoms are present more often.
• Pain may change from dull ache to sharp pain.
• Pain may wake you up at night.
• Pain may cause you to change the way you use your hand.
• Tissue surrounding your affected joint may become red and tender to the touch.
• Youll feel grating, grinding, cracking or clicking when bending your fingers.
• Your fingers cant fully open and close.
• Small bony nodules form on the middle joint of your fingers or at the top joints of your fingers .
• Your finger joints become large and deformed and abnormally bent, leaving your hands weak and less able to accomplish everyday tasks.

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Nightshade Vegetables Cause Inflammation

Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers all contain the chemical solanine, which some blame for arthritis pain. However, the Arthritis Foundation say that there is no scientific evidence for this. Adding these nutritious vegetables to the diet can have many benefits for chronic health conditions.

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.

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Why Does Arthritis Cause Pain In Your Hands

The cartilage of your joints starts wearing away due to arthritis. It can result in irritation and inflammation of your synovial lining. In a normal condition, this lining has fluid to lubricate and protect your joints. However, the effect on the synovial lining can cause several complications.

The joints of your hands can become stiff and painful for arthritis. While you use your hands for repetitive tasks, the pain will become more intense.

For instance, you may feel discomfort while gripping a bag and typing on a keyboard. Your hands will also lose strength. As your hands become weaker, you may not be able to do your regular tasks easily.

To alleviate pain and other symptoms of arthritis in your hands, you can do exercises. We have made a list of the most effective exercises for arthritis in hands.

What Is A Joint And How Does It Work

A joint is where two or more bones meet, such as in the fingers, knees, and shoulders. Joints hold bones in place and allow them to move freely within limits.

Most of the joints in our body are surrounded by a strong capsule. The capsule is filled with a thick fluid that helps to lubricate the joint. These capsules hold our bones in place. They do this with the help of ligaments. These are a bit like very strong elastic bands.

The ends of the bones within a joint are lined with cartilage. This is a smooth but tough layer of tissue that allows bones to glide over one another as you move.

If we want to move a bone, our brain gives a signal to the muscle, which then pulls a tendon, and this is attached to the bone. Muscles therefore have an important role in supporting a joint.

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More Tips For Your Hands

Moving your hands and fingers can help keep your ligaments and tendons flexible and increase the function of synovial fluid. Try regular hand exercises to strengthen muscles and relieve stiffness and pain. Simple exercises like flexing and bending, finger touching, and finger sliding may help keep your fingers limber.

Staying physically active while at the same time taking extra precautions against injury is vital not only for preventing arthritis, but also for your overall physical health.

Dont: Be Afraid To Use Assistive Devices If You Have Knee Osteoarthritis

Canes and knee braces can play a role in decreasing knee osteoarthritis pain and improving function, Pisetsky says. There can be a period of time when knee pain is disabling but its not the right time for surgery, so thats when assistive devices can make a difference, he explains. An occupational therapist can work with you to choose appropriate assistive devices.

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How To Reduce Your Risk Of Arthritis

Even if you cant prevent it, you might be able to lower your chances of developing some forms of arthritis.

The fact is, there is no sure way to prevent arthritis. But you can help reduce your risk and delay the potential onset of certain types of arthritis. If you have healthy joints right now, do all you can now to maintain mobility and function and avoid the pain and disability associated with arthritis.

There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related conditions, and each has associated risk factors, individual features, behaviors and circumstances.

Some risk factors are not modifiable, and there really isnt anything you you can do about them. Being female and having a family history of arthritis are two examples of factors that make people more likely but not certain to get some types of arthritis.

Risk factors that are considered modifiable are the behaviors and circumstances that can be changed in order to reduce risk, delay onset or even prevent arthritis. A few examples of modifiable risk factors for certain types of arthritis and related conditions:

• Osteoarthritis: Maintain a healthy weight.