Arthritis is one of the most debilitating ailments that people suffer from. Arthritis can affect any number of people with any number of health levels. A person does not necessarily have to be elderly or frail to deal with arthritic pain.
Most people do not want to constantly rely on pain pills, whether it is the typical over the counter Tylenol and Advil or whether it is a prescription pain pill. While these can provide temporary relief, they can also become habitual or ineffective. It’s a much better option to dive deeper into the root of the problem and see what habits or methods you can work with to improve your arthritis.
We’re going to discuss our top 5 tips to naturally relieve arthritis pain that won’t involve filling a prescription or constantly taking those drug store pain relievers.
1. Food and Diet Make a Difference
It stands to reason that the foods you eat and maintaining a healthy diet could make a significant difference in relieving arthritis. Food is a medicine to your body when chosen carefully.
Avoid those fatty foods that are high in carbs and sodium. These foods contain ingredients that can lead to inflammation. Inflammation then causes arthritic pain that could make you miserable. Many times, you may not even correlate the two together until you consistently use a healthy diet and realize how much better you feel.
Some specific foods to incorporate into your diet that are typically anti-inflammatory are turmeric, foods rich in Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, pepper, and ginger. Adding these types of foods into your diet help regulate inflammatory properties, which will decrease arthritic pain.
2. Wear Proper Support
Some arthritic pain is caused due to the lack of support and stabilization to your bones and joints. You may need to consider a brace to support problem areas. Another great option is to consider your shoes.
Your shoes carry you all day and support your feet, which directly support your body. Choosing the right shoes for arthritis symptoms make a significant improvement in your symptoms and relieve pain. If you suffer from arthritis in your legs, ankles, or feet, consider changing shoes and choosing a shoe that will offer the right support for your needs.
3. Get a Massage
Investing in a routine massage schedule can significantly relieve arthritic pains. Get a massage specifically for your problem areas. Make these massages a routine priority.
Massages naturally boost serotonin levels and lower cortisol levels. Each of these levels can play a part in arthritic pain so a massage can naturally adjust these levels and provide a pain relief that does not include medicines. With routine massages, you will likely find pain relief and a better range of motion for those areas.
You can learn to massage areas that you are able to reach on your own and incorporate self massages into your routine. We still recommend you see a licensed masseuse on a routine basis, but you can perform your own massages in-between visits there. It is important that you find a massage therapist who is trained to work with arthritic patients, as they will know the best approach to help you.
4. Find Ways to De-stress
Stress is an overwhelming factor in most of our lives. How we manage our stress can directly correlate with our arthritic sufferings. Stress causes inflammation, which can lead to pain.
There are many types of ways to de-stress, and you need to find what works for you. Maybe you can find relaxation in reading a book. Try meditation or yoga. Be mindful of the things that bring stress into your life and work to relieve your mind from the stress. Everyone handles stress on far different levels, find what works for you and strive to regulate your stress levels.
5. Hot and Cold Therapy
Another great option for a natural home remedy for arthritic pain is hot and cold therapy. These seem like polar opposites that don’t work together, but this is a very effective method of pain relief.
Heat therapy improved blood circulation and soothes aching joints and muscles. Cold therapy slows circulation, numbs the area, and reduces swelling. You can choose one method or you can alternate between the two methods. You may find that one works better than the other for your specific arthritic relief. Use caution if you choose to alternate methods, as this can be harsh on your skin.
You can use hot and cold therapy through many different means. The most obvious form would be through a heating pad or an ice pack. For heat therapy, you can try a hot shower or warm paraffin wax to your affected area. For cold therapy, you can use ice soaking of the joint. Limit your cold therapy times to short durations for best results.
Summary & Conclusion
Arthritis can put a damper on your life that is not welcome. People who do not suffer from arthritic pain tend to find it hard to understand your suffering. Because they cannot see the cause of arthritis, it can be hard to relate to the issue. But arthritis affects a large number of people, both young and old.
There are multiple pain medicines available to help relieve arthritic pain and these are a viable option, but pain medicines only do so much and the relief they offer is often temporary. Seeking natural remedies can lead to lasting relief, especially when you incorporate these natural options into your daily lifestyle and routine.
Don’t let arthritis pain hold you back from enjoying and living life. Take some of these natural remedies to heart and apply them to your lifestyle and see take your life back from that arthritis.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sophie Elise is a passionate cyclist, author, and blogger. She is very passionate about writing on different types of women’s bikes, accessories, health, fitness and more. She regularly writes on sportsly.net
Useful Links
https://www.sleepadvisor.org/anxiety-and-sleep/
https://www.healthline.com/health/chronic-pain/treating-pain-with-heat-and-cold
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