Arthritis pain can get worse at any time, but some people seem to experience flare-ups during winter. Dealing with this pain can make it hard to move your joints, which can affect your ability to do everyday tasks and activities. Finding effective ways to manage arthritis pain can help you avoid missing out on being able to enjoy your usual activities this season. The following tips can help ease pain and other symptoms of arthritis.
Do Daily Stretches
Stretching on a daily basis helps keep your joints flexible and reduce soreness. Just make sure the stretches you do are gentle, so you don’t end up in even more pain. You can focus on stretching joints that bother you more often, and keep in mind that you should always stretch in order to warm up before and after doing a workout.
Get Exercise
In addition to stretching, an exercise routine can help ease arthritis pain and reduce the risk of having your symptoms flare up. Choose exercises that are low impact, since these don’t put as much strain on your joints. You should avoid doing exercises that are high impact, such as running and intense aerobics. Other exercises to avoid include any that involve doing repetitive motions, such as playing tennis.
Use a Heating Pad
Applying heat to sore joints provides short-term relief from arthritis symptoms. You should place heating pads on affected joints for no longer than 20 minutes at a time. You might also find relief from taking a hot bath or shower.
Apply Ice Packs
When your joints are sore from exercising and arthritis, applying ice packs to them can help ease pain. Ice packs help relieve inflammation and soreness after workouts. Avoid putting ice packs directly on your skin.
Take Over-the-Counter Pain Medication
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, offer temporary relief from pain and other arthritis symptoms. You might also find relief by applying an over-the-counter cream with capsaicin on sore joints. You should let your doctor know if over-the-counter medications aren’t effectively relieving arthritis pain.
Consider Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help ease arthritis pain and stiffness by improving your flexibility and range of motion. Doing physical therapy exercises can also help make the muscles around your joints stronger, which can relieve pain as well. Physical therapists can guide you through exercises that are considered safe for those who have arthritis. This type of treatment can provide relief from arthritis symptoms and help prevent them from flaring up.
Discuss Other Options with Your Doctor
When arthritis pain doesn’t ease up, talk to your doctor about other treatment options. In some cases, surgery might help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Examples of surgery for arthritis include joint repair, joint fusion and joint replacement. Your doctor can refer you to orthopedic specialists to go over surgical options.
If you need treatment for arthritis, please contact Huntington Orthopedics for an appointment. Our orthopedic team can help you find effective ways to ease arthritis symptoms.