Maintain A Healthy Weight
Keeping trim is one of the best things anyone with knee or hip osteoarthritis can do. “For people who are overweight or obese and have osteoarthritis, even modest weight loss reduces symptoms,” Dr. Shmerling says.
Studies have found that overweight people with knee osteoarthritis who lose weight feel less pain and are more functional in their daily lives. Even losing 5% of your current weightif you are overweightcould make a noticeable difference.
Physical Therapy Can Relieve All Types Of Arthritis Pain
Metabolic Arthritis: This kind of arthritis is typically caused by reduced kidney function. The most common type of metabolic arthritis is gout, a condition caused by uric acid crystals building up in the joints of the extremities, especially the feet. Physical therapy can help gout patients restore range of motion in the affected area and even reduce the buildup of the acidic crystals that accumulate in the joints.
Inflammatory Arthritis: With some cases of arthritis, the bodys immune system will attack joint tissues and cause intense inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis is one example of this type of condition. Inflammatory arthritis often stems from a genetic cause, and it is usually treated with heavy doses of drugs and over-the-counter medications. However, depending on the severity of symptoms, physical therapy may be recommended for treatment as well.
Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. This particular condition is caused by a reduction in joint cartilage as it wears away over time. This degeneration causes bones to rub together, which leads to pain and swelling. Physical therapy can often help to reduce osteoarthritis pain without medication, especially if the arthritis is mild to moderate.
What Else You Can Do To Help Relieve Joint Pain
Although strains and sprains can often be the cause of painful joints, there are other causes to watch out for, including cold weather, along with gout, bursitis and arthritis.
- Take regular exercise – it helps build the muscles that support the joint, helping with pain. Choose gentle low impact exercises such as swimming and speak to your GP first if you’re not used to exercise
- Keep to a healthy weight – excess weight can put more stress on joints such as your knees
- Pace your activities and don’t do too much in one go
- Keep warm – many people find their joints hurt more in the cold and wet, so keep well wrapped up
- Alongside your painkillers you can also use a TENS* machine, like the LloydsPharmacy joint pain reliever, and other drug-free products, such as hot and cold packs. To find out more about how TENS machines work and their benefits
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Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help your physical and mental well being. Doing gentle, regular exercises can help keep your joints flexible, strengthen your bones, help you maintain a healthy weight, relieve emotional stress and create a feeling of general well being. Eat a well-balanced diet with a high intake of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, fish and olive oil. There is no specific diet for people with RA and no specific foods to avoid.
Wrist Hand Or Finger Splints
If youre going through a bad arthritis flare-up, using resting splints can help quiet the active inflammation and give you some relief, Dr. Osterman says. These are devices, usually made of plastic and secured with velcro, that temporarily immobilize the joint, which allows it time to rest, he explains.
Im only 22, but some of my fingers are already severely bent and fused from having juvenile arthritis. Splints are helpful for the pain and for helping keep them straight so hopefully they dont bend more, says rheumatoid arthritis patient Emma A., from Melbourne, Australia. My favorites are ring splints since they look like jewelry instead of a medical brace.
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Types Of Osteoarthritis Medication
Different types of medication can ease osteoarthritic pain. Some are tablets and capsules that you swallow. There are some you can rub on your skin. There are some that are injected into the joints.
The most common ones are:
- analgesics , such as paracetamol
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as diclofenac gel and ibuprofen tablets
- topical therapies . You can buy gels and creams that reduce the pain. These include topical NSAIDs and capsaicin.
Some people also have injections of corticosteroid into their joints to reduce inflammation. These dont last long-term and can damage the joint if you have them more than once every 4 months.
If these medications dont work, your doctor may consider anti-depressants like duloxetine or an opioid medication.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation uses a machine that sends electrical impulses through sticky patches, called electrodes, attached to the skin. This may help ease the pain caused by your osteoarthritis by numbing the nerve endings in your spinal cord which control pain.
Treatment with TENS is usually arranged by a physiotherapist or doctor, who can advise you on the strength of the pulses and how long your treatment should last.
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Hot And Cold Treatments For Joint Pain
Warmth has been used for many years to help relieve pain and stiffness. As well as a warm bath or shower, you could try heat packs that can be placed on the area which is in pain to help.
Cold can relieve swelling which can then ease pain. You can apply an ice pack or cold pack for up to 20 minutes every couple of hours. Some people use a mixture of both hot and cold alternately. Its best to try a few options to find what is right for you.
Natural Therapies For Arthritis Pain
Medication isnt the only way to manage arthritis pain. Look at these eight natural therapies for arthritis.
1. 8 Natural Therapies for Arthritis Pain
2. Acupuncture
Splints
If a joint is very swollen and painful, your doctor or therapist may suggest you use a splint to rest the joint . This helps reduce swelling and pain. Your doctor may recommend that you wear the splint during certain activities all day or only at night. This depends on how severe the swelling or pain is.
Sleep
Getting a good nights sleep restores your energy so you can better cope with the pain. It also rests your joints to reduce the pain and swelling. Only you know how much sleep your body needs, so get into the habit of listening to your body. If you feel tired and ache after lunch every day, for example, take a brief nap. This can help restore your energy and spirits.
If you have trouble sleeping at night, try relaxing quietly in the afternoon rather than taking a nap. Here are some other tips to help you sleep better:
- take a warm bath before going to bed
- listen to soothing music or a relaxation tape
- spend some quiet time by yourself before you go to bed
Do not take sleeping pills unless your doctor recommends them.
Massage and topical lotions
Tips for safe massage:
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Physical Therapy For Arthritis
The goals when working with aphysical therapistfor arthritis treatment will include preserving a good range of motion, increasing strength to reduce stress on the joints, and other natural treatment options. Here are some of the benefits of working with our physical therapists:
- Your physical therapist will work with you to control your weight through exercise and diet. Controlling your weight helps to prevent added stress on weight-bearing joints.
- Posture work will help to reduce stress on your joints.
- Light exercises and stretching will help to increase range of motion in the affected areas.
- Your therapist will also recommend a schedule for rest and sleep to complement your exercises. This helps the body to heal and hopefully reduce arthritic inflammation and pain.
Every treatment regimen is different based on your bodys needs and your particular type of arthritis. The best way to get started on a med-free treatment through physical therapy is by contacting PT Link Physical Therapy at our multiple locations and scheduling an appointment with one of our therapists.
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The Risks Of Untreated Rheumatoid Arthritis
Left untreated, RA can lead to a host of health problems, so its essential to find and stick with a treatment plan that works.
Staying on top of your rheumatoid arthritis treatment can be difficult, but untreated or undertreated RA can lead to dangerous consequences and have a large impact on your health and overall quality of life.
Without proper treatment, RA can cause long-term damage to joints and serious damage to your whole body with persistent pain and possible disability, says David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, a rheumatologist and professor of medicine and immunology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Over time, theres a high risk of joint deformity and lost function.
On the flip side, the right treatment plan can go a long way toward preventing long-term damage and preserving joint function: With current treatment options, most people can have good control of symptoms and reduce RA progression, Dr. Pisetsky says. Many can even experience remission.
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Reduction Of Joint Stress
Because obesity stresses the musculoskeletal system, ideal body weight should be achieved and maintained. Rest, in general, is an important feature of management. When the joints are actively inflamed, vigorous activity should be avoided because of the danger of intensifying joint inflammation or causing traumatic injury to structures weakened by inflammation. On the other hand, patients should be urged to maintain a modest level of activity to prevent joint laxity and muscular atrophy. Splinting of acutely inflamed joints, particularly at night and the use of walking aids are all effective means of reducing stress on specific joints. A consultation with a physical and an occupational therapist is recommended early in the course.
What Can Physiotherapy Do For Me
Physiotherapy treatment programs can not only lessen the pain you experience from arthritis, but they can also help improve your daily life.
Working with a physiotherapist every week can improve the following:
- Improving range of motion Physiotherapy can help keep your muscles and ligaments loose which will reduce inflammation and stiffness. This will decrease your pain levels, and improve your overall range of mobility.
- Improving muscle strength Physiotherapy techniques are often used to increase strength. If the muscles that surround and support aching joints become stronger and more flexible, they can help relieve arthritis pain.
- Using the correct technology Physiotherapists can teach you how to use walkers, orthotics, and other assistive technology devices correctly. This can help ease strain on your joints when you move.
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Current Analgesics Used To Treat Arthritis
The focus of rheumatology is the best possible patient care and management of disease-related pain and impact on the patient by understanding the underlying pathophysiological aspects of this inflammatory disease process. Greater understanding of pain mechanisms and growing appreciation for pain control have, however, caused rheumatologists to consider new approaches in pain management. Whereas central pain mechanisms are increasingly addressed in the pharmacological therapy for fibromyalgia patients, it is less clear how to manage the centralized pain processes in OA and RA patient populations. Therefore, it has been proposed that clinicians change the concept of pain control in arthritis-related pain to one of pain-modifying analgesic drugs . The following drugs are the main categories of pharmacological agents used for pain control in OA and RA patients. It should be noted that all treatment options may be combined with nonpharmacological approaches.
Other Ways To Relieve Arthritis Pain
Using supplements for arthritis and joint pain is not the only way to deal with pain without worrying about side effects. Other options for pain relief include:
- Hot and cold therapy: A simple warm shower in the morning can ease stiffness on your leg and reduce arthritis pain. Besides this, use an electric blanket throughout the night to minimize discomfort.
- Cold treatments: Apply a gel ice pack or a bag of ice to the painful joints to relieve pain.
- Massage: A qualified massage therapist will know to rub the affected joint to increase blood flow and ease the pain.
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What Is It Like To Live With Rheumatoid Arthritis
If youre fighting Rheumatoid Arthritis, you can live an active, normal life, but you may need to practice self-care to minimize your pain and symptoms. Here are a few ways that those suffering from RA manage it:
Physical Activity. Regular exercise is vital. Staying strong and keeping muscles active is a great way to reduce pain. Suggested activities include low-impact aerobics, dance, Pilates, yoga and other exercises that strengthen muscles and promote flexibility. Patients should see a doctor or physical therapist for recommended activities based on their abilities and then lessen the intensity if any joint damage has already occurred.
Diet. Eating foods that help keep inflammation low can be greatly beneficial to those suffering from RA. Most of these items fall into the traditional Mediterranean diet menu of fish, olive oil, fruits and vegetables. Foods to avoid include anything processed like packaged cookies and crackers, and fast foods.
Temperature Therapies. Some Rheumatoid Arthritis patients find relief using heating pads and hot baths to soothe stiff joints and muscles. Alternately, for a rapid reduction of inflammation to numb sharp pain, ice packs can be utilized.
Community. Connecting with others who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis and/or discussing the ailment with supportive friends and family members may help to mentally navigate the condition.
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How To Treat Osteoarthritis With Massage Therapy
One hour of massage each week for at least eight weeks has been shown to be a treatment for osteoarthritis and relieve arthritis pain and stiffness as well as increase mobility, according to data from an article published in June 2015 in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
Muscles that spasm around the joints in osteoarthritis can be soothed using massage therapy, Altman says. The massage therapist lightly strokes or kneads the sore muscles, which can stimulate blood flow and make a stressed area become more warm and relaxed.
Be sure to see only massage therapists who have experience treating people with osteoarthritis, because arthritic joints are very sensitive and must be handled with care. Ask your doctor for a referral for this natural treatment for arthritis.
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What Happens In Ra
With continuous swelling and inflammation of your joints, the joint capsule remains stretched and can no longer hold the joint in its proper position. As a result, the joint may become unstable and this can lead to joint damage. The joints affected and the extent to which this happens varies a great deal from person to person. RA usually affects the small joints in your hands and feet, but it can affect many joints including your ankles, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, neck and shoulders. The pain, stiffness, fatigue and whole-body symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can be disabling and can lead to difficulty with daily activities. Effective treatment by a rheumatologist can prevent joint damage and reduce other symptoms of RA.
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What Is The Best Treatment For Arthritis Pain Relief
Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to prevent and relieve arthritis pain and improve joint function. Your physician may recommend one or more options based on your type of arthritis, including:
- Medications: Painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , counterirritants, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs , biologic response modifiers, or corticosteroids
- Physical therapy
- Alternative medicine
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How To Cure Rheumatoid Arthritis Without Medication
Significantly serious joint problems, as in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, can be managed well without any aid from surgical procedures.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
This is a form of an autoimmune disorder, resulting in inflamed joints. The immune system, for no outward reasons, starts to target the thin membranous lining of the joints and attack them, causing joint stiffness, pain, bulging and eventually leading to joint destruction.
The problem is usually due to an abnormality occurring in the immune functions, but it could also arise after an infectious process, or due to changes in hormone levels. There could be environmental or hereditary factors too that may be playing some role in bringing about this condition.
A person suffering from rheumatoid arthritis will complain of either
- Swollen joints that feel warm when touched
- Easy bruising and repeated episodes of fracture, occurring mainly from bone loss
- Stiffness or a tingling sensation felt in either the hands or feet.
Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis
Medications will usually provide pain relief. However, when the condition has been in existence for long, with progressive bone destruction noted, then surgical treatment will have to be considered.
Opting to undergo any type of a surgical procedure is a big decision to be made. Also, the outcome of such procedures will not always be positive.
Find A Community That Understands
Theres no reason to go through a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis or long-term journey alone. With the free PsA Healthline community, you can join a group and participate in live discussions, get matched with community members for a chance to make new friends, and stay up to date on the latest Psa news and research.
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These Low Impact Exercises Could Help With Joint Pain:
- Cycling can give you a good workout, is gentle on your joints and you can enjoy it with all the family
- Swimming is easy on the joints too and it also works all the muscles in your body, so can help keep you in shape too
- Using weights or resistance bands can help boost the muscles around your joints, helping to make them stronger and more stable
- Yoga or Pilates can also help strengthen your joints and maintain mobility
For strengthening exercises, start with as many repetitions you can comfortably do and then build up gradually. When doing exercises, slowly move as far as you can until you feel a stretch in the muscles around the joints. Then hold still in the position, aiming for 20 seconds.
Exercise 1 – Sit on a chair and using one leg at a time, pull your toes up, tighten your thigh muscle and straighten your knee.
Exercise 2 – Stand in front of a chair and hold on with both hands for support. Slowly crouch keeping your back straight and heels on the floor.
Exercise 3 – Sit with your knees bent and feet together. Press your knees down towards the floor, using your hands as needed.
Exercise 4 – Lie on your back. Pull each knee in turn to your chest, keeping your other leg straight.
Don’t forget, if you have arthritis, it’s advisable to check with your GP before starting any new exercises.