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Tips to Help with Arthritis Pain

Is arthritis pain getting in the way of day to day activities or hobbies you once loved? We understand how disheartening that can be, but there are things you can do to help relieve arthritis pain and get you back to the lifestyle you enjoy.

Here are some tips to help with pain of arthritis:

  1. Warm up! Use a heating pad, hot water bottle or take a nice warm bath to help encourage circulation and loosen tension around your joints.
  2. Ice is nice. Apply ice or a cold compress on sore joints to reduce inflammation.
  3. Exercise. We know the last thing you feel like doing is moving, but it’s actually one of the best things you can do to reduce pain! Low-impact exercises can help your joints without added stress. Try exercises like water aerobics, swimming, or even gentle yoga.
  4. Stretch. This goes hand-in-hand with exercise – It is important to take the time to gently stretch. It can not only relieve the pain but also maintain mobility and range of motion.
  5. Get a massage. Whether a full body massage or simply massaging sore joints yourself, it is a great way to relieve tension in your muscles. Massage also helps get the blood flowing and release endorphins which helps with pain.
  6. Anti-inflammatory medication. There are various medications that can reduce swelling and minimize pain. Talk with your doctor about which might work for you.
  7. Maintain a healthy weight to minimize stress placed upon your joints.
  8. Eat foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids. These have been proven to reduce stiffness and pain in joints. Using the spice, Turmeric, has also been known to provide anti-inflammatory properties.
  9. Occupational therapy. Visit our hand therapists who can show you exercises and daily modifications that may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in your wrists or hands.

You don’t have to give up doing the things you enjoy because of arthritis pain. You can manage your symptoms with a few modifications to your lifestyle and before you know it, you’ll get back to living the life you love. Give us a call at Muskegon Surgical Associates and we’ll  be happy to give you more helpful tips to help you find relief from your arthritis pain.