Arthritis refers to a painful disease. It is a degenerative condition that is marked by inflammation in the joints which leads to stiffness and pain. There are many types of arthritis while osteoarthritis remains as the most common type. It tends to get worse with age. It is caused by wear and tear.
Treatment
Doctors tend to treat arthritis by using anti-inflammatory medications along with painkillers. Some of these medications may cause side effects. People are opting for a natural approach to pain relief. But you should always consult your doctor before you try any of these natural remedies.
Your weight makes a major impact on the amount of pain that you experience. This is because more weight means more pressure on your joints, including your knees, hips, as well as feet. Once you lower weight, it will reduce the stress on your joints. This will help to improve your mobility, and decrease pain too. It will also help in preventing any future damage to your joints.
Exercise can help in weight loss. In addition it leads to regular movement that will help in maintaining flexibility in your joints. But do note that any kind of weight bearing exercises such as running and walking should be avoided. Rather, you can try out low-impact exercises such as water aerobics or swimming. These will flex your joints and there would be no further stress being added.
Hot and cold treatments make a lot of difference to arthritis pain. Having long showers or baths with warm water in the morning can help to ease stiffness in the joints. An electric blanket or using a heating pad at night can help to keep the joints loose. Cold treatments can help in relieving joint pain.
Acupuncture is an ancient medical treatment involving inserting of thin needles into specific points on the body in order to re-route energies and to restore balance in the body. It is believed to reduce arthritis pain.
Meditation and relaxation techniques can also help to reduce pain from arthritis as they aid in coping with stress. This is why meditation helps people with painful joints.
Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diets to get optimum health. Fish oil supplements are high in omega-3s and can help in reducing joint stiffness as well as pain. Another fatty acid here can be gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA that is found in the seeds of plants such as black currants, evening primrose, borage and hemp.
Turmeric contains a chemical known as curcumin that helps to reduce arthritis pain. This chemical has anti-inflammatory properties. Hence you can add this spice to your meals.
Doing regular massage of arthritic joints can help in reducing pain and stiffness. This will help in improving the range of motion too. You may try self-massage, or visit a massage therapist regularly.
NSAIDs — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — are a type of pain reliever used for arthritis. At prescription doses, these drugs also reduce inflammation. Inflammation is the body’s response to irritation or injury and is characterized by redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. NSAIDs are used to treat a variety of conditions that cause pain and inflammation, including arthritis and tendinitis. NSAIDs are also used to treat pain from injury or other causes of long-term pain.
DISCLAIMER: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.