You may even find your grandparents’ difficulty to even step down from the bed or to get up from a low profile sofa due to arthritic joint pain. Arthritis is acting mainly on the joints of the body and is more common in the joints of the lower body that are frequently used for movements.
Arthritis can be put in simple words as the pain and inflammation of joints.
Joints( area where bones meet) become taut and painful during arthritis.
Arthritis is more common among older people and is more likely to attack women than men but it can occur and can attack any individual from any age group.
We will be discussing arthritic joint pain and treatments available for them but let us have a gist of arthritis first.
Well there are many types of arthritis that can affect a person and can also affect the daily routine of that person. There are multiple types of arthritis. But the two major types are discussed here:
Osteoarthritis
It is the type of arthritic joint pain in which joints are exposed to depreciation with the passage of time. This type of arthritis is a degenerative one that progresses over the passage of time. Doctors often prescribe some pain killers for temporary relief.
Rheumatoid arthritis
In this type of arthritic joint pain, the body cells are destroying the other normal cells. It is more of an autoimmune response in which the normal joint cells are attacked and are often killed during the process.
The doctors then, depending upon the type of arthritis, will suggest suitable solutions. There are medications that can be taken in order to get rid of the pain and the doctors often suggest physical therapies as well.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of Arthritic Joint Pain
There are many symptoms of arthritic joint pain but the most commonly observed and reported may include the following:
- Pain in any body joints like hands, feet and fingers.( the terms coined as arthritis in hands, arthritis in feet and arthritis in fingers respectively.)
- Redness around the joints particularly in hands, feet and fingers
- Swelling of joints also called inflammation of joints
- Poor movement associated with the joints
There could be many other symptoms as well depending on the type of arthritis one has got. Also the symptoms are severe in older people as they have decreased metabolism and they cannot repair the body cells as early as a young person.
Side Read : Know about these lifestyle changes to prevent arthritis.
Causes of Arthritic Joint Pain
The causes of arthritis and joint pain are diverse and there are many causes that don’t have a sound basis.
But it generally believed that arthritic joint pain is caused due to following reasons:
Increasing age
This issue is more prevalent among older people and it is most of the time considered as a normal sign of ageing.
It is considered that osteoarthritis is an age related disease.
Gender
Women are more susceptible and are prone to severe and frequent arthritic attacks due to menopause. The oestrogen cycle, when it stops, has a derogatory effect on the joints and may cause pain and inflammation of joints that may come across as arthritis.
Poor lifestyle
Your lifestyle has a key role in making arthritic joint pain more terrible. If you have lived a life which is filled with poor dietary habits, increased use of soda drinks and aggressive smoking then this arthritis is more likely to attack you then any other person.
Family history
This can also be a contributing factor in getting arthritis at a young age. If any of your parents had arthritic joint pain then the degree of contracting this joint disorder is greatly enhanced.
Also the chances of getting arthritis in hands are increased greatly due to a pre-existing family history.
That’s all about the arthritis overview, if you are doubtful that you might have this ailment be it in early stages then it is necessary to get your X ray done. However getting advice from the doctors first is highly preferable.
Arthritic Joint Pain and Treatment Available
There are many treatment options that one can take after getting him/herself diagnosed with arthritis. Treating your symptoms on your own might be a dangerous task.
Recommendation: You can now connect with the top physiotherapists and pain management specialists in Islamabad at Physiatrics Pain Clinic.
So if you are sure that you are suffering from arthritic joint pain then these are some treatments that can be taken in this regard.
1. Don’t Stop!
Yes it is essential to keep going and don’t stop. The arthritic pain is no doubt an issue in this regard. But it is essential to do light exercises and keep yourself active.
If a person being afraid of the pain gives up on the daily routine tasks then it may cause severe issues that will persist and can lead to joint immobilisation and stiffness.
Some slight stretches that can be done at home for arthritic joint pain and its treatment.
Try to move your joints with the full range of motion but if you are unable to do it then do not over push yourself by getting an unnecessary mental burden.
There are many exercises that one can perform even while sitting on a couch or a chair. This may involve doing virtual cycling or moving your arms by imagining that you are swimming.
2. Cut Down the Extra Pounds
As we have discussed so far, the main joints which get affected due to arthritis are the ones that are concerned with movement.
So if you are facing arthritis in the knee and toe joints and if you are struggling with the arthritic pain you get while standing in your university, office or even under normal circumstances then cut down those extra pounds.
Maintain a balanced weight that is according to Body Mass Index BMI. This will help to avoid the burden and will also avoid the extra compulsion faced by the joints.
If you want to lose weight then know about these 8 diet plans which can help in reducing weight.
3. Try Using Hot and Cold Therapy
This method can be adopted to alleviate the pain and inflammation due to arthritis.
In heat therapy one can even take a hot water bath that will help to soothe down the pain around the joints by improving the blood flow.
The hot therapy can also be taken by the hot pads that can be applied directly over the affected area to get an immediate relief. Arthritis in knee area can be best treated by applying this hot therapy method.
While in case of cold therapy, there are ice packs that are used to desensitise the pain for some time. This method is equally effective in managing the swelling and inflammation.
However it is necessary to note that you should not apply ice directly over the affected area or anywhere in the body where you experience some pain.
4. Go for Adjunctive Methods
The adjunctive methods that are best suited in treating the pain associated with arthritis may include the followings
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic pain management
- Wet cupping
Arthritic joint pain and treatment options that are mentioned above aim at your body’s own capability to cope up with the pain. These methods should be used in treating arthritis as they don’t involve any surgeries nor do they involve any strong painkillers that can possibly disturb your stomach.
5. Conscious Meditation
While meditation is the best method to unburden yourself from futile thoughts and ideas that are impeding your success in daily life.
There is a new trend in the meditation field where you have to be observant of what is happening in the moment.
Be it emotions, sensations and thoughts you need to observe all those things but not with a judgmental approach rather be kind to yourself.
This method has helped people to understand the reality in a different perspective that is healthy for them.
Also there is a significant decrease in the overall body pain of the participants of this meditation program but particularly this method is useful if a person is suffering from arthritis in hands.
6. Get a Relaxing Massage
This can also help in managing the pain and stiffness in joints. A number of sore tendons and joints can be made to feel better after a thorough massage.
There are studies to support the viewpoint that massage is linked with lowering the overall body stress and pain as it may help the body to produce such hormones that can make the sebastian of pain less. Also in other cases the muscles and joints when relaxed often have reduced pain sensation.
However it is highly suggested to get the massage from certified people only. They could select the degree of pressure in massage.
7. Over The Counter Medications
If you can’t see any doctor on immediate basis then these over the counter and safe for general use medicines can be taken to get the temporary relief from the arthritic pain.
These medicines may include
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen sodium
It is however important to note that these are helpful for a period of time. The pain may start again once these medications are digested in your body. So it is advised to get the best consultation in order to manage these symptoms for a longer duration of time.
8. Topical Gels
There are many gels and ointments that can be applied on the affected joints and area to lower the arthritic joint pain and treatment of the pain with gels is by far one of the easiest methods.
These gels contain either the non steroidal anti inflammatory substances or they have such agents that can help in lowering down the pain sensation for some time.
These gels can be used in cases when the person cannot use pain killers due to health issues like stomach upset, liver impairment and heart diseases.
The Final Takeaway
It is essential to remember that there are many causes of arthritic joint pain. There are many types of arthritis as well. In many cases you can’t take the responsibility and you have to live with it once it has set in. But there are preventions and natural treatments which can help in lowering down the intensity of the arthritic pain and one may continue to live with it just like any other normal person.
If you think that natural treatments are not working for you then it is strongly suggested to seek the doctor. Make an appointment today with the best doctors in treating arthritis through our website healthwire.pk.
