10 Tips for Managing Arthritis Pain
If you or your loved ones are one of the 3.9 million Australians (1) living with arthritis, then you know about the chronic pain that is part of this condition.
Knowing how to manage arthritis pain is the key to living a more comfortable and enjoyable life. While you will already have your own coping strategies, here’s a reminder of how you can keep arthritis symptoms such as pain at bay.
1. Take your arthritis medication
Drugs prescribed by your doctor will help keep pain and inflammation under control, so make sure you take them regularly. If you are having issues with side effects, be sure to talk to your doctor.
2. Keep a healthy weight
Extra weight can put pressure on your joints, increasing pain, while fat can trigger inflammation in the body. Try simple changes to your diet like swapping sugary treats for fruit and cutting down on processed and fatty foods.
3. Start exercising
Exercise is essential to your general health as well as being one of the ways to stave off arthritis pain. You can try low-impact exercises like yoga, swimming and cycling to help improve your flexibility and strength and reduce joint pain.
4. Try relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques like mindfulness and meditation can be of benefit to people living with arthritis, and they really work. For example, a review of studies (2) carried out over a 50-year period found that practising mindfulness-based activities reduced the intensity of pain felt by people with chronic pain conditions.
5. Stay positive
Staying positive and being proactive will help enhance your ability to manage arthritis pain. Sometimes simply focusing on an activity that you enjoy and can get absorbed in can be enough to take your mind off the pain and keep your outlook bright.
6. Follow a healthy diet
A diet rich in fruit, vegetables and other whole foods will boost your intake of nutrients and keep your immune system protected for good overall health. And you can incorporate foods like garlic, fatty fish, turmeric and ginger, which have anti-inflammatory properties, into your diet.
7. Use hot and cold treatments
Hot and cold therapy can help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Try a long, warm bath in the evening for a comfortable night’s sleep or apply a cold compress to painful joints for rapid relief.
8. Treat yourself to a massage
Try a massage by a therapist who has experience in working with people with arthritis. It may help with joint pain and will certainly promote an overall feeling of relaxation and wellbeing.
9. Use arthritis aids
Arthritis aids are invaluable in taking the strain off affected joints, reducing the chances of further damage and helping you to perform day-to-day tasks. These can range from cushioned grip scissors through to built-up cutlery and pencil grips.
10. Rest when required
Experiencing chronic pain can be exhausting, so don’t feel guilty about resting when you need to. A nap or just taking 30 minutes to switch off can sometimes be enough to restore and energise you to get you through the day.
Reassurance that someone is always there
While arthritis can feel like a debilitating condition, know that there are plenty of simple ways you or an affected loved one can manage the pain.
While you’re trying out steps to tackle arthritis pain, why not also take stock of your or your relative’s practical needs going forward?
In-home and personal alarms, apps and accessories like Tunstall’s can offer the reassurance that there is always someone there 24/7, no matter what happens. Get in touch with our friendly team to know more.
References
1. Arthritis New South Wales website
2. Reiner K, Tibi L, Lipsitz J. ‘Do mindfulness-based interventions reduce pain intensity? A critical review of the literature,’ Pain Medicine, 2013 Feb;14(2):230-42. doi: 10.1111/pme.12006. Epub 2012 Dec 13.
