Arthritis pain relief can be applied in 7 ways

Arthritis can cause pain, swelling... affecting the daily quality of life of the sufferer. There are a number of ways to help the patient reduce pain.

1. Use medicine to help relieve pain caused by arthritis

Some over-the-counter (OTC) creams contain capsaicin, which can be applied topically to relieve pain. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers and may block pain receptors or reduce inflammation, helping to relieve arthritis pain.

In case the doctor prescribes medication, the patient must comply with the medication as prescribed, adhere to the dosage, number of times to take the medication per day and the medication regimen...

Sticking to your treatment plan is the best way to relieve joint pain from arthritis and avoid complications.

Take medication as prescribed by your doctor to relieve pain caused by arthritis.

2. Follow the Mediterranean diet

There is no magic eating plan for arthritis relief, but the Mediterranean diet is considered the gold standard for anti-inflammatory diets, says Folashade Alade, MD, a rheumatologist with Piedmont Physicians Group in Georgia. Less inflammation means less arthritis pain.

A recent review in the journal Rheumatology International found that eating a Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fish while cutting back on red meat… shows promise in reducing pain and improving physical function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

3. Cut down on sugar

Cutting down on sugar can help reduce arthritis pain. In a study of 217 people with rheumatoid arthritis, desserts and sugary soft drinks were the two foods most often reported to make their arthritis pain symptoms worse. Therefore, people with arthritis should limit their intake of sweets.

Even if you don’t experience direct pain relief from following the Mediterranean diet or cutting back on sugar, these habits may help reduce arthritis joint pain indirectly. Specifically: Extra weight puts extra stress on joints and is linked to higher levels of inflammation, so achieving and maintaining a healthy BMI may help you feel less pain. Avoiding sugary, processed, and fried foods and emphasizing fruits and vegetables may help reduce arthritis pain through weight loss.

4. Don't sit for long periods of time

If you’re dealing with back pain, sitting for long periods of time and not moving around enough… can contribute to your pain. Many desk-bound people tend to forget that sitting is bad for your back over time. So get up at least once an hour to stretch a little at your desk.

5. Regular physical activity

The less you move your body, the more your joints will hurt when you do. Rest while you're in pain, but exercise is best for your body in the long run.

Sports such as swimming, yoga, tai chi… are very beneficial for people with arthritis.

6. Hot or cold compress

Heat therapy can help dilate blood vessels to promote blood flow, while cold therapy constricts blood vessels to reduce inflammation. As a general rule, for chronic pain, you use heat, but for an acute injury, use ice, says Dr. Alade.

However, some people with acute pain flare-ups may feel better with heat and people with chronic pain may feel better with cold, so try both and see what works best for you.

7. Self-massage

Massage isn't just for stress relief, it can also help your joints. A study of 42 adults with rheumatoid arthritis found that those who received moderate-pressure massages had less pain; better range of motion in their shoulders, elbows, and wrists; and a stronger grip after one month.

Massaging the muscles around the affected joint can help improve circulation and reduce painful spasms. While professional massage can be helpful, it is not always convenient and depends on the financial situation of each patient.

Instead, you can learn some simple self-massage techniques, which can be done at home, to massage the inflamed joints including: Knees, hands, feet, neck…

Patients can also talk to a physical therapist who specializes in arthritis to learn techniques that target specific joints that cause pain.

In addition to these home remedies, it is important for the patient to lose weight (if overweight), improve sleep, reduce stress… will also help control arthritis symptoms./.

According to suckhoedoisong.vn

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