According to the latest statistics, more than 50 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis. It has been proven that some lifestyle changes and home remedies can be effective in dealing with the symptoms of uncontrolled inflammation.
So, if you want to reduce symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, and sharp pain, here is what you can do:
Lose weight
A study conducted by the Arthritis Foundation has shown that each pound of patient’s body weight equates up to 6 lb of pressure on the hip joints and knees. You can reduce stress on your joints by losing weight. It will also improve overall mobility and relieve pain. Moreover, this strategy can also help you to prevent possible future damage to your joints.
It’s important to mention that extra pressure on joints leads to advanced forms of osteoarthritis.
To shed unwanted pounds, you should move throughout the day more. Doctors assure that every kind of exercise can help to lubricate the joints and decrease pain. If you don’t have enough motivation to go to the gym four times per week, at least start walking since it also burns calories (around 150 calories every 30 minutes).
When it comes to dieting, consider an anti-inflammatory diet that includes nuts and seeds, fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs.
Use Cold and Hot therapy
If you want to get relief from arthritis faster, consider using cold and hot therapy. For instance, you can take long warm showers or baths – it is a very effective strategy in the mornings.
Before going to sleep, you can use a moist heating pad or electric blanket in order to ease stiffness in joints.
If you don’t have anything like that at home, consider wrapping a gel ice pack in a clean towel and applying it to painful spots.
Use Cannabis
These days, cannabis is a popular supplement among patients with arthritis (in countries where the plant is legal for medical use). According to Cannabis Growing Canada experts, cannabis is an anti-inflammatory agent. A study that proved that was firstly published in the journal Rheumatology in 2014. In case you want to use marijuana to get relief from arthritis, make sure to talk to your doctor at first.
Meditate
Meditation cannot only help you to reduce stress and control anxiety, but it can also help you to reduce age-related memory loss, fight addictions, and relieve physical pain – these are science-based benefits.
One study investigated the impact of meditation on people who have arthritis. After completing an 8-week program, around 60% of participants showed a reduction in symptoms, including morning stiffness and sharp pain.
Get a Massage
Massage doesn’t only feel good after a long tiring day at work, but it also has a lot of health benefits. First of all, it boosts happy hormones, which leads to a better mood. Secondly, massaging the joints helps to get rid of the pain caused by arthritis.
The best thing is that you don’t need to go to a massage therapist every week in order to see the positive effects. It’s enough to learn how to give yourself a massage at home.
If you decide to self-massage, consider using a tennis ball or a heating pad to relieve tension. It’s crucial to massage yourself before and after the workout.
Do Aquatic Exercises
Aquatic exercises help to increase exercise intensity and relieve pressure on the joints. Older adults with arthritis who participated in an aquatic exercise study noted the following improvements: better sleep, mood, coordination, and range of motion.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of things that can help you to get relief from arthritis pain at home. In case self-massage, hot and cold therapy, specific supplements, and meditation don’t help you to reduce pain, it’s important to see a doctor.
So if you experience symptoms of arthritis (stiffness, pain, swelling difficulty moving) for longer than three days, make a doctor’s appointment as soon as possible. Getting the right treatment on time will help you to prevent damage to the joints.
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