When you’re suffering from arthritis pain, it can feel like you’ll never get relief from it. But that’s just not true – you can reduce or eliminate joint pain by following these recommendations. Don’t wait – start now to make your coming years joyful rather than painful. Here are some tips that will help you.
Tip 1: Start Your Day Feeling Good
What about that arthritis pain and morning stiffness when you first get out of bed? At age 72 I sure feel it. That’s a result of our joints, muscles, and tendons not moving during sleep and therefore tightening up. Once we get moving, and we should do so slowly and gradually, we start to loosen up. OK let’s be real and truthful to ourselves. Our joints are no longer young so they are not going to feel quite the same as they used to. What’s important is to help them to be the best they can be now. You must protect your joints from unnecessary stress and wear. Don’t allow your joints to stay in only one position for any long period of time while awake. The movements shown here feel good and will loosen your shoulders and back. Do this first thing in the morning using these rubber resistance bands.
Tip 2: Heat up and Stretch Out
You need to stretch but don’t stretch cold muscles. When muscles and tendons stretch they become more limber and you reduce the possibility of tears. Get warmed up by walking around and moving your arms and shoulders. Perform a few squats with no added weights. Don’t worry if you can’t do a full squat, just do what’s comfortable. Stretch all muscle groups.
Tip 3: Chill Out With Ice
Use an ice pack on swollen joints and muscles to relieve arthritis pain. Swollen muscles cause pain by putting pressure on your joints. Ice will reduce the swelling. You’ve seen baseball pitchers and tennis pros applying ice packs. Apply for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off for the best results. Don’t overdo it.
I use this excellent Hammacher device for my shoulders.
Tip 4: Movement is Life
Movement is your best friend. Exercise causes fresh blood to circulate. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness by increasing your flexibility and the range of motion of your joints. An extra benefit is that loose, limber muscles are actually stronger than tight stiff muscles. That’s a good thing. You should feel stronger not weaker. Life is so much better when you feel good. When your muscles are cold and you lift and carry an object that is not even really heavy you’re inviting injury. That’s how you hurt yourself lifting a bag of groceries. Don’t let that happen. Keep your body active.
Tip 5: Arthritis Sufferers Love that Touch
Massage will do wonders for your body and help to relieve arthritis pain. There are different types and techniques of massage. As we age the muscles that surround our joints become tighter. Massage will loosen up those muscles. That releases pressure on your joints providing pain relief. Massage is something to share with your family, friends and significant other. Not only is it excellent for your body it will also accentuate intimacy.
Is there anything better than the human touch?
Find a professional massage therapist near you.
American Massage Therapy Association
I love to use my electric massage chair. It’s always ready when I need it. This the best one I’ve found.
An important reminder: Diagnosis Not Guess Work
While I hope the above gives you relief, as with any medical condition, it’s really important you get diagnosed by an arthritis specialist. Ask your primary care physician for a referral. The three main types of arthritis are 1. Osteoarthritis is degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone. It is most common from middle age onward. It causes pain and stiffness, especially in the hip, knee, and thumb joints. 2. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic progressive disease. It causes inflammation in the joints resulting in painful deformity and immobility. It especially affects the fingers, wrists, feet, and ankles. 3. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis. That’s a condition that features red patches of skin topped with silvery scales. Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. Joint problems can sometimes begin before skin lesions appear. Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. They can affect any part of your body, including your fingertips and spine. Pain can range from mild to severe.
Only a medical doctor can make the determination so be sure you are diagnosed right.
Finding an arthritis doctor.
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