7 Natural Remedies For Arthritis Pain

Osteoarthritis is a serious condition; it affects the lifestyles of 27 million Americans. In fact, this disorder could trigger anyone and may eventually impair mobility if pain escalates to an alarming level.

Doesn’t affect you now? As you age, your odds of developing osteoarthritis will only grow. It inflicts 14% of adults aged 25 years and older, and 34% of those 65 and up.

As arthritis symptoms progress, various treatments are sought to relieve one’s pain and discomfort. In most cases, doctors generally recommend anti-inflammatory medications to treat swelling and reduce pain, but the intake of these drugs comes with complications and side effects.

With this issue on hand, the uses of alternative remedies are becoming more popular.But before you resort to any miracle “cures,” such as wearing copper jewelry, taking shark cartilage, or applying topical snake venom, why not try these 7 natural remedies that won’t cause any harmful side effects and will treat arthritis pain effectively.

1. Maintain an ideal weight

Arthritis often affects obese people, adding more pain as their weight increases. If you want to keep this disorder at bay, maintain an ideal weight based on your height and body mass index.

In the event you’re already a few pounds heavier than your ideal weight, do your best to shed those extra pounds– every pound you lose means 4 pounds less pressure on your knees. Some people will see their symptoms disappear if they pare off 10 to 20 pounds.

2. Observe an active lifestyle

If you want to delay the development of arthritis, physical activity is essential.

It was once thought that exercise made arthritis worse, but research has shown the opposite to be true— unless you’re engaging in an activity that jars your joints. (Runners with knee osteoarthritis should reduce their mileage, incorporate cross-training, and run on softer surfaces, such as dirt trails.)

A simple walk, jog, or swim will keep you in good shape. Focus on exercises that will increase your stamina and muscle strength such as aerobic, isometric, and isotonic exercises.

If you feel pain when you exercise, physiotherapy can help to maximize functional movement and ability by using a variety of hands-on treatments, exercise recommendations, and education.

3. Chiropractic care

Since arthritis is a dysfunction of the joint, it may respond well to mobilization. Joint dysfunction can cause pain, and mobilizing the joints through manipulations (adjustments) can decrease that pain. A more gentle kind of manipulation, called intersegmental traction, may also be used.

Additionally, chiropractic also treats the muscle spasms that are often associated with the condition. Chiropractic manipulation can break up the muscle spasm and scar tissue, easing the pain.

4. Proper Diet and Nutrition

When you have arthritis, your diet is important. Vitamins and minerals help lessen the occurrence of pain or feeling of stiffness linked to arthritis.

In fact, what you eat makes a huge impact on any chronic condition. A poor diet may cause inflammation. Failing to get proper nutrition, including vitamins and minerals, may worsen symptoms for people with arthritis.

5. Interferential Electro-Therapy

Electrical energy can be used to help reduce pain and inflammation in affected joints with a treatment called Interferential Electro-Therapy, or E-Stim (Electro-Stimulation). Performed by a chiropractor, electrodes are placed around the arthritic joints where they deliver impulses through the skin. According to evidence, this technique can provide temporary pain relief and minimize joint stiffness.

6. Apply hot and cold therapy

For minor pain and swelling, the application of hot and cold treatments can help to reduce stiffness of the joints.

A long warm bath or shower in the morning, and an electric blanket or moist heating pad at night will keep your joints loose.

Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, is best to reduce inflammation and pain. You can use a gel ice pack or a bag of crushed ice; wrap it in a towel to protect your skin and apply it directly on the arthritic joint for instant relief.

7. Massage Therapy

According to the Arthritis Foundation, regular massage treatments can encourage range of motion and also ease pain or stiffness brought on by arthritis. For the greatest benefit, schedule appointments with your massage therapist regularly. You can also work with them to learn self-massage to manage your pain between sessions.

Our massage therapist is experienced with working on people who have arthritis.