Arthritis Relief

Depending on the severity of your arthritis you may find your daily activities  are limited due to the pain and swelling of your joints. You can find relief through various pain management methods.

Most of the following methods can be administered on your own while other methods require a professional. Arthritis pain relief methods provide only short-term relief from the pain of your swollen joints. Try all the different types of pain management and relief methods to find out which will give you the greatest amount of pain relief.

Moist Heat
One way you can relieve your arthritis pain is through the use of moist heat. Using warm moist towels or a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day will relieve the inflammation of your joints and the pressure on them from your body which will reduce your pain.
Cold Packs

For inflamed joints that happen suddenly and don’t last for very long, you will need to use a cold pack for pain relief. The easiest cold pack is a Ziploc bag of ice cubes wrapped in a towel. Place the pack on the inflamed join for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.  If your joint starts to feel warm or numb, remove the ice pack.
Water Exercises and RelaxationUsing a pool or a whirlpool try some water aerobics to help reduce your joint pain and stiffness. There are water exercises specially designed for those suffering with arthritis

Arthritis pain can cause your muscles to become tense. The more pain you have the more tension is placed on your muscles. Learning to relax your muscles can help relieve some of your joint pain.  Try some progressive muscle relaxation techniques.

Mobilization Method
Use a professional for this type of arthritis pain relief. A massage therapist can massage the muscles and joints that are affected by arthritis. Traction is also an added and feel good benefit. This is a gentle steady pulling of the affected joints. Manipulation is the method of using your hands to restore normal movement to your joints affected by arthritis.

Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture is a pain relief method that is applied by a licensed acupuncturist. Needles are placed in certain areas of the body to help relieve the pain caused from the inflamed joints.  Do not try this at home, it must be performed by a licensed professional.

Acupressure Therapy
Similar to acupuncture, acupressure uses pressure instead of needles. Pressure is applied to various areas of the body to help relieve pain from inflamed joints.

Your doctor will be your best resource for deciding which pain management method will work best for the type of arthritis that has been diagnosed.