Methods for Dealing with Arthritis Pain

Essentially, arthritis can be described as a variety of issues that involve inflammation and pain in the joints. The condition is degenerative and will worsen with the passing of time. It can also be a type of autoimmune disease that can be characterized by things like being chronic and having flares of inflammation. Before trying any sort of remedy you find here or anywhere else, remember to talk to your doctor.

​Losing Weight

​Weight can have a massive impact on symptoms of arthritis. This is due to the fact that extra weight can put more pressure on joints like feet, knees, and hips. Guidelines from health and wellness resources like the American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation have strongly recommended weight loss for arthritis patients who happen to be overweight. Your physician can help you set a goal weight and design a diet to help you reach it.

​Exercise

​Anyone who suffers from arthritis might find relief in exercise. This can help with lowering and managing weight, maintaining flexibility in the joints, and strengthening the muscles offering support to those joints. Exercise that’s performed either with a personal trainer, or even just a friend or loved one can be even more beneficial because it can increase your amount of motivation. Low impact exercises are good ones to try. These include things like walking, tai chi, swimming, cycling, and even water activities such as aerobics.

​Heat and Cold

​Another thing that can be beneficial when it comes to relieving the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis is hot and cold therapy. Hot treatments might include things like using a heating pad or electric blanket on the affected area in an effort to reduce the pain at night or taking long, hot baths or showers to relieve it during the day. Cold treatments can assist with relieving inflammation, swelling, and joint pain and can be as simple as placing an ice pack or a bag of frozen food that you’ve wrapped in a towel and holding it to the area.

CBD

CBD is a non-psychoactive, potent anti-inflammatory that can assist with the reduction of pain. The CBD hemp flower is akin to the other cannabinoid called THC but will not get you high like THC will. CBD acts on the neurotransmitters in the brain that are associated with pain and this can mean a reduction in the pain felt with arthritis.

​Acupuncture

This is an ancient Asian medical treatment that has to do with inserting a number of needles into specific areas of your body. People who do this say that it works by restoring balance and rerouting the energy in the body. Even though the evidence isn’t enough to confirm any true benefits of this method, the risk of it causing any sort of harm is quite low, and as such, it’s been cautiously recommended by the ACR/AF.

Meditation

Relaxation techniques and meditation can assist with the reduction of pain associated with arthritis because it lowers your stress levels and allows you to cope with the pain better. Things like yoga and tai chi are also recommended. These practices combine breathing techniques, relaxation, and meditation with a bit of low impact exercise.

The 2 different types of arthritis – rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can be very debilitating when not treated. Osteoarthritis, or OA, can result from the wear and tear of the cartilage causing bones to rub against each other, which causes inflammation, damage, and friction. RA (Rheumatoid arthritis) is more of a systemic condition that can trigger symptoms throughout the body. This is an autoimmune issue and can occur when the immune system erroneously attacks joint tissue that’s healthy. Both should be treated by a doctor or licensed health professional.