
If you suffer from arthritis, you are not alone.
Usually, the first thing most individuals try is nonprescription
medications (like Aspirin, Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve) for pain
relief. If this doesn’t work, the pain may increase to the point
that surgery becomes a possibility (joint repair or
replacement).
How do you manage arthritis?There is no one best way to manage arthritis pain, and no
single technique that is guaranteed to give you complete
pain relief. In fact, a combination of methods work best. Think of arthritis pain management as a
continuing journey. And this is your travel guide – you can pick your itinerary based on how your
symptoms are.
Step 1: Learn about your arthritis painPatient education is probably the most important step in pain management, according to the
American Pain
Step 2: Restore your muscle balance
Regain posture.
of compensating for a sore/painful knee or hip can result in
pain in the hip, knee, or even the ankle. Sitting slouched for
hours, jutting the abdomen out when standing can lead to
low back pain. Our therapists can observe how you sit,
stand, and walk and teach you how to adjust your posture to
decrease the stress on your joints, and help you move with
less pain.
Exercise.
muscles and improves flexibility. Our physical
therapists specialize in arthritis treatment and can suggest
appropriate movements that provide a full range of motion. Physical activity also helps blood
circulation through the body and around the joints, which help bring oxygen and nutrients to
help with the healing process. Also, did you know that losing 10 pounds of excess body
weight takes roughly 30 to 60 pounds of pressure off the knee? So talk to one of our
therapists to get you moving in the right direction!
Protect your joints.
dressing, writing and driving. We help you find alternative ways to perform your activities by
strategically integrating ‘rest periods’ and avoiding tasks that trigger joint pain and discomfort
Step 3: Do-it-yourself pain relief
In addition to doing your exercises (that we prescribe), here are a few things you can do in the
comfort of your own home:
Heat.
can help relax tight muscles, eliminate waste products like lactic acid that cause stiffness
and soreness. Here’s what you can do to increase temperature to affected joints:
Hot bath or Jacuzzi
Caution
bodies do not regulate heat as efficiently) check with your doctor first.
Heating pads
Caution: Although moist heat tends to be
more effective than dry heat, you can use
an electric heating pad. But be careful – it
is estimated that 100,000 people burn
themselves on it every year, so make sure
you DON’T fall asleep with it on! Read the
instructions before use. We can teach you exactly how to use a heating pad for
best results.
Contrast bath
Use warm water (110 deg F) and cold water (65 deg F) for areas like hands and
feet. Put your hands/feet in warm water for 5 minutes, then in cold water for 1-2
minutes. Repeat this process up to 3 times to help decrease pain and swelling
in the joint.
Cold therapy.
decreasing the blood flow to the area to decrease swelling, and reducing the pain signals to
the brain (making it less painful). After an acute flare-up, for the first 48-72 hours, use ice for
up to 15-20 minutes to decrease pain and swelling.
Rest.