Arthritis Pain Relief – What You Can Do to Cope With Pain
As any arthritis sufferer knows, finding arthritis pain relief strategies is always a high priority. The join inflammation that arthritis causes leads to a vicious cycle of pain and reduced mobility. If you want to enjoy your favorite activities, finding the right method of arthritis pain relief is key. Fortunately, there are many different ways to cope with arthritis pain, from medication, to exercise, to various natural remedies. Here are just a few arthritis pain relief methods.
The most common way to manage the pain of arthritis is to take some sort of medication to reduce the inflammation. The two main types of medications doctors prescribe for arthritis pain relief are NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and analgesics. NSAIDS include popular medications such as ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, and various salicylates. These drugs work by reducing the inflammation that causes pain in the first place. Other drugs prescribed for arthritis pain relief, such as analgesics, simply block the pain mechanism but do not treat the arthritis itself. Analgesics include Tylenol, Codeine, Morphine, and Vicodin, to name a few. The problem with relying on medication for arthritis pain relief is the possibility of addiction and severe side effects from long-term use.
Depending on which type of arthritis you have, exercise may provide arthritis pain relief. You should make sure to talk to your doctor before starting an exercise regimen for arthritis pain relief, as he or she can let you know if exercise is a suitable treatment for you. Exercise not only increases your flexibility (important if you want to keep doing your favorite activities), but also helps maintain weight. In many cases, maintaining a healthy weight will relieve pain because there will be less stress on the joints. Types of exercises that work well for arthritis pain relief include range of motion exercises, strength training, and aerobics or some other form of cardio.
You can try reducing the impact of cardio by exercising in a pool. This will reduce the stress on your joints while allowing you to gain the arthritis pain relief benefits of exercise. If you can, try swimming in warm water or relaxing in a hot tub. Warm water can decrease stiffness and pain while providing a relaxing way to unwind. You might also try getting a massage to provide arthritis pain relief and soothe stiff muscles. While massage therapy cannot provide complete arthritis pain relief, when combined with other methods it is an effective way to keep yourself limber and pain-free.
