Managing Arthritis Pain

Arthritis is a range of medical conditions that involve inflammation (swelling) of the joints, which can cause severe pain. While there are over 100 conditions under the arthritis umbrella, the most common ones include osteoarthritis (degenerative joint wear), rheumatic arthritis (an autoimmune inflammatory disease), and gout.

Managing pain from inflamed joints can be a lifelong process for patients with chronic arthritis. In this article, we’ll provide some advice on tackling arthritis pain in your daily routine.

Physical therapy

For chronic arthritis, the most common forms of treatment are medications and physical therapy. While the latter can often be troublesome for some sufferers or even bring more pain than normal, patients are encouraged to stick with their treatment. Physical therapists provide valuable exercise and strengthening regimes to improve their patient’s quality of life and movement range.

While doing physical therapy, it’s important to stay strong mentally and focused on your goal. Keeping the right mindset and avoiding the victim mentality will often have a noticeable improvement in quality of life. Instead of considering yourself as someone suffering from arthritis, view the condition as a problem that can be tackled with a positive attitude and professional help.

Improve posture and keep moving

A person’s posture and weight can have a profound effect on their joint condition. The added mass pressing on inflamed joints from bad posture can create additional stress and cause pain. On the other hand, good posture can slow the deterioration of the joints. A physical therapist or a physician can assess a person’s posture and weight and design exercises and programs to improve them.

It’s also important to keep moving. When joints are in motion, they produce synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant, easing movement and reducing wear. By stretching and moving regularly, patients can alleviate their pain when waking up or after periods of inactivity.

Vary diet and exercise

An integral part of any physical therapy or exercise is to include a variety of movements. It is easy to settle into a routine that doesn’t mobilize the joints enough to produce beneficial results. Patients can consult their physical therapists to create an optimal exercise regime and regularly check with them to vary the routine. Most people won’t require exercises with weights to get their bodies moving and strengthen their muscles over time. Pilates or aquatic therapy can provide the necessary range of motion steadily.

Diet is also an essential part of the regime. Keeping a diet rich in fresh foods, vegetables, and whole foods improves the levels of antioxidants in the body, alleviating inflammation. Processed foods, sugars, and red meat can increase swelling and pain.

Turmeric is considered a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant food. A small amount can be an excellent addition to most dishes.

Adjust chores and housework

When dealing with arthritis, it’s best to know one’s limits. For example, cleaning the entire house might be best done a section at a time, with proper pacing and breaks to prevent overexertion.

Additionally, consider which tasks can be outsourced. Having grocery shopping delivered or furniture moved by someone else may be less convenient or more costly but can improve the person’s quality of life in the long run.

If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.