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Appendix Pain? Learn about CDC-recognized self-management education programs that improve the quality of life of people with arthritis.
Physical activity is a simple and effective, non-drug way to relieve arthritis pain. Being physically active can reduce pain, improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis. Regular physical activity can also reduce your risk of developing other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. It can help you manage these conditions if you already have them. Stay as active as your health allows, and change your activity level depending on your arthritis symptoms.
Some physical activity is better than none. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that adults be physically active at a moderate intensity for minutes per week. Visit the health. Get more information about how to exercise safely with arthritis or find a community program near you.
Talk to your doctor if you have joint pain and other arthritis symptoms. You can play an active role in controlling your arthritis by attending regular appointments with your health care provider and following your recommended treatment plan. This is especially important if you also have other chronic conditions, like diabetes or heart disease.
Losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight is particularly important for people with arthritis. For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight reduces stress on joints, particularly weight bearing joints like the hips and knees.
They add, however, that massage is unlikely to pose a risk and may provide indirect benefits, such as reducing stress. Ask your doctor to recommend a massage therapist who has experience in treating people with arthritis. Alternatively, you could ask a physical therapist to teach you self-massage.
Some of these herbs include:. Be sure to buy from a reputable source. Always talk to your doctor before trying a new supplement, as some can cause side effects and dangerous drug interactions. Discover the most effective treatments for osteoarthritis of the hip and find out how lifestyle and medical approaches can help prevent the need for….
Osteoarthritis OA causes stiffness, pain, and swelling in the joints. Practicing yoga can help ease these symptoms. Caring for someone after a total knee replacement can help ensure a smooth recovery. This article gives 10 tips you can use to help them recover. Knowing what to expect after total knee replacement surgery will help ensure a successful recovery and long-term outcome.
Here's an overview. Here are psychologists' take on it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Natural Relief from Arthritis Pain. Medically reviewed by Brenda B. Spriggs, M. Arthritis can limit you but it doesn't have to control your life. Talk to your doctor, nurse or therapist about how you can make your life more healthy. Get involved in a favorite activity or hobby. Remind yourself of what you can do rather than what you can't do.
You'll feel better and your pain will not seem as severe. It's easy to slip into the habit of drinking alcohol or taking more medicines to escape your pain. If you answer "yes" to any of the questions below, you may need to find new ways to handle your pain. Changing your pain habits will help you feel better. One way to make a change is to do something positive in place of the old habit and to reward yourself.
Discuss these habits with your doctor, nurse or other health care workers who specialize in pain management. Ask them to help you find new ways to cope with your pain.
You can make a chart of your own pain control methods. This will help you keep track of which methods you have used and which ones work best for you. Adapt it often. Post it where you can refer to it often such as on your refrigerator or medicine cabinet. Share your successes and frustrations with others--whether it's with family, friends, loved ones or others that have pain.
Find out about support groups in the community and learn how others are overcoming their pain. Don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. To help manage pain you may want to consult a primary care physician, nurse, pharmacist, physical therapist or other health care professional. You may be referred to a rheumatologist a doctor who specializes in treating arthritis.
Even though pain may interfere with work relationships and daily life, few Americans talk to their doctors about it. One of the best ways to gain control of pain is to talk to a doctor about it. Unlike a broken leg, pain cannot be seen in an x-ray or identified by a medical test. What a patient says may be the only way the doctor will know about the pain.
And because people experience and respond to pain differently, how a patient describes pain is the best way for the doctor to understand what the patient is feeling. Only then can the doctor help the patient treat the pain. Patients may want to consider asking a friend or family member to accompany them to the doctor's office. He or she can take notes or help listen to what the doctor says. Remember that pain not only affects the person suffering with it ,but it may also affect the people around them.
It may also be helpful to prepare in advance by writing down symptoms, allergies, medicines, previous medical procedures and conditions or diseases and to show this list to the doctor. By being prepared to describe pain to the doctor, patients can make the most of their doctor visits. Thinking about these questions before a doctor's appointment may help patients explain their pain to doctors:. If patients still have questions about the pain or the treatment plan after the doctor visit, they should call the doctor back.
Cold packs numb the sore area. They are especially good for severe joint pain and swelling caused by a flare a period during which disease symptoms return or become worse. Heat treatments relax your muscles. You can use dry heat methods such as a heating pad or heat lamp or moist heat methods, such as a bath or hydrocollator pack.
Place a cold pack or ice bag on the painful area. You can buy these at the drug store or you can make one by wrapping a towel around a bag of frozen vegetables. Another key to coping with pain is to follow an exercise program designed by your doctor or physical therapist.
Your exercise program should include special range-of-motion exercises to help keep your joints movable. It should also include general fitness exercise such as swimming or walking.
These help keep your heart, lungs, bones and muscles strong. Exercise also helps relieve stiffness and gives you an improved sense of well-being. Here are some tips to help you exercise properly:. Using your joints wisely means doing everyday tasks in ways that reduce the stress on painful joints. Saving your energy means "listening" to your body for signals that it needs to rest. It also means learning to pace yourself so you don't become too tired. Here are a few guidelines for using your joints wisely and for saving your energy:.
Pain and stress have similar effects on the body. Muscles become tight and breathing becomes fast and shallow. Heart rate and blood pressure go up. Relaxing can help you reverse these effects. It gives you a sense of control and well-being and makes it easier to manage pain. Relaxation is more than just sitting back reading or watching TV. It involves learning ways to calm and control your body and mind. Relaxation does not come easily especially if you are in pain.
It takes practice. The best time to use relaxation skills to manage your pain is before the pain becomes too intense. Some people find it very difficult to relax. They feel they don't have time to practice it or they don't believe it will help them. Others feel embarrassed for taking the time. With a little practice most people get some relief from relaxation. There is no best way to learn how to relax. Everyone responds differently to different techniques.
Try some of the methods below until you find some that work for you. Guided imagery uses your mind to focus on pleasant images. First begin by breathing slowly and deeply.
Think of yourself in a place where you feel comfortable safe and relaxed. This may be a favorite vacation spot or a porch swing in your own backyard. Create all the details--the colors sounds smells and how it feels. These images take your mind away from pain and focuses it on something more pleasant.
Prayer is very relaxing and comforting for some people. You may want to make a tape recording of a soothing inspirational message. Hypnosis is a form of deep relaxation in which your attention is focused internally--away from the usual thoughts and anxieties. You'll need to work with a professional trained in hypnosis who has been referred by your doctor.
Some psychologists counselors or social workers who are trained in hypnosis may be able to teach you how to safely hypnotize yourself. Suggestions for positive change seem to be more easily accepted while a person is quiet and relaxed. Most people who find hypnosis helpful in relieving pain, report it as soothing and enjoyable as well. Biofeedback uses sensitive electrical equipment to help you be more aware of your body's reaction to stress and pain and to learn how to control your body's physical reactions.
The equipment monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature or muscle tension. These body signals are shown on a screen or gauge so you can see how your body is reacting. Biofeedback helps you learn how you feel when your muscles are tense or relaxed. If you do a relaxation technique while using the equipment, you can learn to control some of your body's responses to pain.
One advantage to biofeedback is that it shows you that you have the ability to relax. Relaxation audio tapes help guide you through the relaxation process. These tapes provide directions for relaxation so you don't have to concentrate on remembering the instructions. Many professional tapes are available for purchase. You might also want to make your own tape of your favorite relaxation routine. Any major disturbance in your life--such as illness or chronic pain--may make you feel anxious, depressed, angry or even hopeless.
This is your first place to turn for help. The team includes your doctor and a nurse. It may also include an occupational therapist or a physical therapist, a social worker, counselor, psychologist and a pharmacist.
Talk to the members of the team about ways to cope with pain. They may be able to help you find services in your area. Don't be afraid to suggest to your doctor a pain management idea of your own or one from this program. You know yourself and your pain better than anyone. Many people become depressed when they have severe pain. Some people feel so bad they cannot sleep or eat. In these cases, therapy or counseling may help.
Some people are afraid to admit they need help. They believe that others will think they are crazy if they talk to a professional about their problems. But it's smart to get help when you need it. If you have the symptoms of depression--poor sleep, changes in appetite, crying, sad thoughts--talk with your doctor.
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