Arthritis is a type of condition where you experience pain and stiffness in your joints and muscles that could also interfere with your daily routine.
In severe cases, people suffering from arthritis are not even to do the simplest of daily tasks. Arthritis can affect adults and children alike, and often there is no particular reason for the same. If you are already suffering from the same, here are effective ways you can ease the pain in the coming year.
Tips To Ease Your Arthritis Pain
1. Lose Weight
If you are overweight or obese, it will exert more pressure on your joints and increase the pain. Reducing weight will help your muscles and joints to recover and also reduce the side effects of arthritis that you feel. When you walk, the pressure you get on your knee joints are almost 5 to 6 times that of your entire body weight. If you reduce even a little amount of weight, it will have a big impact on your overall pain and discomfort.
2. Cut Down On Your Sugar Intake
Reducing your sugar intake is also a direct way to reduce your weight and ease the pain and discomfort you feel from arthritis. Sugary foods contain no health factor, as sugar has only calories and no real nutritional value. While it is alright to have a little amount of sugar once in a while, you can easily fulfil your sweet cravings by having alternative foods such as berries, dates and raisins.
3. Try Using Hot And Cold Therapy
Using hot and cold therapy can ease your arthritis pain to a great extent. It is important to remember that even though using the hot therapy makes you feel comfortable, you should only use cold therapy for the first 48 hours of pain, as it will help to reduce the inflammation and thus reduce pain. Taking a warm shower in the morning can help ease your pain, as well as using a heating pad at night. You can use an ice pack or even a bag of frozen peas or chilled water bottle and place it on the affected area to get immediate relief.
4. Exercise Regularly
You may feel that exercise will increase your pain, but including exercise in your daily routine will actually help to reduce the pain from arthritis. Also, it will help you lose weight which is another effective way to reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Running or walking fast could have an adverse effect on your affected joints, so instead you could opt for other exercises such as swimming that will not exert pressure but will still let you exercise.
5. Eat Foods That Are Rich In Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are good for your overall health, and are especially good for those who suffer from arthritis. If you eat foods that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, it will help to bring down the stiffness in your joints as well as reduce the pain you have as a result of arthritis. You can get your daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids by taking cod liver and fish oil supplements but make sure you speak to your doctor first before taking them.
6. Add Turmeric In Your Daily Meals
Turmeric contains a type of chemical known as curcumin which has tremendous anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce your arthritis pain and discomfort.
7. Have Enough Vitamin-D Levels
When you have enough vitamin D in your body, it will help to absorb calcium from the foods that you eat, and make your muscles and joints stronger. As a result, you will feel less pain and discomfort. Vitamin D can also help your immune system stay strong, which is especially helpful for those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. You can either get vitamin D by spending some time outdoors in the sun, from food sources such as cod liver oil, fortified cereals, mushrooms, eggs and tofu, or by taking supplements after speaking to your doctor.
Physiotherapy is also a very effective way of easing arthritis. You may book an appointment with our experienced physiotherapist to understand more about how it can benefit you.
