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Living with arthritis pain can be challenging, to say the least. For many people, their arthritis pain keeps them from living their best life.
Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints caused by the breakdown of cartilage tissue. It can occur in the back, the arms and hands, and in the legs and knee joints, among other areas of the body.
And the most frustrating part about arthritis is that there’s no cure.
However, that doesn’t mean that you have to be in debilitating chronic pain for the rest of your life. There are several ways to help minimize your pain so that you can take your life back and enjoy it to the fullest.
Below are five ways that you can manage pain caused by arthritis as well as some information about additional interventional steps that you can take.
1. Medication
There’s a list of different medications that can help you control your arthritis pain. For some people, over-the-counter medications can help relieve the pain, while others with more advanced cases of arthritis need stronger medication.
Here are some options:
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Ibuprofen, naproxen, or diclofenac
- Counterirritants, like menthol and capsaicin
- Corticosteroids (steroids), like prednisone
- DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs), such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and azathioprine
For any medication to be effective, its dosage must be adhered to, meaning that you need to take your medication as scheduled. Do not attempt any form of medication treatment without first consulting your doctor.
2. Healthy Diet
We have all heard about the importance of a healthy and balanced diet, but the reality is that your diet plays a major role in the way your body functions. Depending on what you eat, you could be helping or hurting your arthritis pain.
It is important that you are getting a steady amount of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc, which makes the following good choices to eat:
- Olive oil
- Oily fish
- Vegetables, like kale, spinach, broccoli, and collard greens
- Nuts
- Dairy products
Conversely, you want to make sure that you are severely limiting the amount of processed foods, sugar, saturated fats, and refined carbs that you are eating.
3. Regular and Smart Exercise
Exercising is one of the best ways to get and stay in shape. As you exercise, you burn calories while strengthening your joints and muscles, all of which can be helpful if you struggle with arthritis pain.
However, it is important that you are smart when you exercise.
You don’t want to overdo it and push your body too much, since that can lead to more pain. So, instead of trying to sprint marathons, make sure that you are exercising the right way.
Here are some suggestions of good exercises to help manage arthritis pain:
- Walking
- Water exercises, including swimming and water aerobics
- Stretching, including yoga
- Pilates
- Cycling
4. Rest and Recovery
Whether it be after exercise or just in general, making sure that you are allowing your joints and muscles the chance to recover is important.
Life can be hectic and can pull you in multiple different directions (sometimes at the same time). If you are constantly on the go, then you are only putting more stress on your body. This can mean increased arthritis pain. So, make sure that you give yourself time to rest and relax. It will help your body, and it will help your mind.
5. Emotional Wellbeing
Suffering from arthritis pain takes a toll on you physically; however, there is also mental and emotional pain associated with chronic pain. It’s no secret that our mental and emotional wellbeing are connected to our physical activity, so make sure that you are looking after yourself completely.
Some ways to help improve your emotional wellbeing include spending time with family and friends and staying active, through exercise or simple activities
What Are Some Other Ways to Limit Arthritis Pain?
In addition to the list above, there are other ways that arthritis pain can be managed. These options include non-invasive or minimally invasive non-surgical treatments.
At Advanced Relief Institute, Dr. Amin is proud to offer some of the most effective treatments to help you feel better so that you can start living your best life.
Some of these interventional pain management and regenerative treatments include:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Acupuncture
- Joint mobilization
- Physical therapy
- Therapeutic exercise
Interested in Learning More
If you are suffering from arthritis pain and want to take your life back, then contact our Florida pain relief experts today to learn more about how we can help you. Call us at (954) 458-1199.