Natural Remedies for Arthitis Pain

The following is a guest post from Carolyn Ridland, the founder of CaregiverConnection.

Carolyn writes: About 10 years ago, my parents began reaching the point where they could not be self-sufficient anymore. I was just married with two toddlers, so I felt like I couldn’t take them in, yet I wanted to make sure they were taken care of.

I want to share my story, and let you know that you are not alone if you are in a similar position. Children are expected to take care of their elderly parents when the time comes, but it’s not always that easy.
Caregiver Connection emerged from a place of real love and compassion. We understand the struggle that exists when you care deeply about your loved ones, but you’re faced with decisions you never wanted to make. Our main message is that nobody should have to face these times alone.

Arthritis refers to a group of painful and degenerative disorders which are characterized by inflammation in the joints. This inflammation is what causes pain and stiffness in the affected area. The most ​common type of arthritis​ is osteoarthritis, which only gets worse as we age and usually results from the wear and tear accumulated over the years. Another well-known type of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are disorders where the body’s immune system attacks some of the body’s components thinking they are foreign organisms. In rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system attacks the joints.

Arthritis is usually treated using painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication. However, due to the side effects that some of these medications might have, natural remedies are becoming a more popular means of alleviating this pain. This article will discuss the most effective natural remedies for your arthritis. However, it is important to consult your doctor before attempting these treatments.

1. Lose Weight

Excess body weight will strain your joints, while the additional body fat might cause damage to the already problematic joints. This is because fat is an active tissue containing hormones and chemicals, of which some promote inflammation, thereby aggravating the condition.
Therefore, by ​losing weight​, you will be reducing the stress on your joints in addition to mitigating the effects of excess fat. This will decrease pain, improve your mobility, and ensure that your joints are not prone to damage in the future.

2. Exercise More

Apart from helping you lose weight, exercise through regular movement helps maintain the flexibility within your joints. Nevertheless, avoid weighted exercises in addition to high impact movements such as running or walking as they put stress on your joints. Rather, go for low-impact exercises such as swimming and water aerobics to exercise your joints without stressing them.

3. Apply Hot and Cold Therapy

Hot and cold treatments have proven to be invaluable in arthritis pain management. To get their benefits, have long, warm baths or showers regularly – especially during the morning – to help ease the stiffness within the joints. You could also use a moist heating pad or electric blanket to help in keeping your joints loose at night.

Cold treatments are used to relieve joint pain, inflammation, and swelling. Whenever a joint becomes painful, wrap a bag of frozen vegetables or gel ice pack in a towel and apply it to the joint for quick relief.

4. Consider Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a medical treatment that has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. During the procedure, fine needles are inserted into specific parts of your body known as pressure points. The aim of the treatment is to reroute energies to restore balance within the body.

Acupuncture has proven to be so effective that it became the most researched complementary therapy. The World Health Organization recommends this treatment for over 100 different disorders.

Among the conditions that acupuncture has been found to be effective for is arthritis pain. Ensure that the acupuncturist you go to is highly rated and recommended by multiple sources.

5. Meditation

Meditation seems to be a cure-all, and with good reason. Meditation techniques are effective in dealing with arthritis pain because they reduce the overall stress on and in your body. Studies done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that mindful meditation has been good at alleviating pain from painful joints. Moreover, because the meditation reduces your stress, the swelling and inflammation in your joints reduce as a result.

6. Incorporate the Right Fatty Acids Into Your Diet

Omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for everyone. However, they are also beneficial in combating arthritis. As such, consider taking fish oil supplements as they are high in omega-3s.