Pain due to arthritis affects many people around the world. There are two types of arthritis: rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common and results from the natural breakdown of joints, while rheumatoid arthritis is an immune disease. Although arthritis can't be cured, there are things you can do to help maintain and reduce pain. You may need to run some tests, but by trying simple methods, you can learn to get rid of the pain associated with arthritis.
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Method 1 of 3: Relieve Pain with Medication and Supplements
Step 1. Take analgesics
You can take over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen or tramadol, to help relieve pain. These medications help, although they don't reduce inflammation. Some examples of popular brands are Tylenol and Ultram.
If the pain is severe, call the clinic and ask for prescription analgesics, such as narcotics containing oxycodone or hydrocodone. Some popular prescription drugs include Percocet, Oxycontin, and Vicodin
Step 2. Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
To treat arthritis pain, take over-the-counter NSAIDs. These medications, such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen, can be used to relieve pain that sometimes accompanies arthritis, or overworked muscles causing muscle and joint pain. These drugs also reduce inflammation, which is a major component in triggering arthritis pain.
- Talk to your doctor if you take these medicines too often. Don't overdo it or you'll have more problems, including kidney and liver damage.
- Try common brands of ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin, and naproxen, such as Aleve.
Step 3. Use a topical analgesic
There are several topical creams that can be purchased to help with arthritis pain. These creams contain menthol or capsaicin, which, when applied to the skin over the painful joint, can relieve pain. In addition, these creams can also interfere with the transmission of pain signals from the problematic joints.
- In various studies, capsaicin has been shown to reduce pain by as much as 50% after three weeks of use.
- You can also buy NSAIDs in cream form.
- You can use these creams with or without oral medications.
Step 4. Ask your doctor about corticosteroids
You can take prescription corticosteroids to help reduce the pain and swelling that occurs with severe arthritis. Doctors can give it in the form of injections or pills. Injections can provide immediate relief, but should only be given a few times a year. This is because the injection can damage bone and tissue.
All prescribed forms of corticosteroids will be supervised by a doctor, as these drugs may cause some potential negative side effects, such as loss of vitamin D leading to reduced bone quality
Step 5. Consumption of SAM-e
SAM-e, also known as S-adenosylmethionine, is an anti-inflammatory supplement and can trigger cartilage vessels. This supplement also affects neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which helps reduce the perception of pain.
Some studies show that SAM-e relieves arthritis symptoms as effectively as NSAIDs, but has fewer side effects
Step 6. Use Unsaponifiable (ASU) avocado-soy
ASU is a supplement that blocks inflammatory chemicals in the body. ASU also prevents damage to joint cells and can help restore connective tissue. This supplement is a combination of 1/3 avocado oil and 2/3 soybean oil.
This supplement is available in the form of a gel capsule. You should take one pill of its 300mg daily
Step 7. Drink fish oil
Fish oil, also known as the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, is a supplement that has been extensively studied. Omega 3 helps block cytokines and prostaglandins and is converted by the body into anti-inflammatory chemicals.
- Fish oil also helps reduce joint tension and stiffness. In studies, fish oil has been shown to reduce or stop NSAID use.
- You can also take omega 6 fatty acids, known as gamma linolenic acid (GLA), to help reduce inflammation in the joints.
Method 2 of 3: Reducing Pain by Changing Your Lifestyle
Step 1. Understand the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Although the characteristics of the two are similar, the causes are different. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, your body's joints are attacked by your own immune system, which causes pain. In osteoarthritis, pain occurs as a result of using the joint. The type of arthritis you have may affect the most appropriate treatment for your body.
- Rheumatoid arthritis can start at any age, while osteoarthritis usually occurs in the elderly, as this condition is associated with joint use. Symptoms usually appear quickly rather than gradually over several years.
- The main sign that you have rheumatoid arthritis and not osteoarthritis is the presence of other symptoms, such as fatigue and prolonged feeling of pain.
- The pain that comes from rheumatoid arthritis affects both large and small joints, and usually occurs on both sides of the body. The pain in the morning will also last more than an hour. If you have osteoarthritis, you may also have pain in the morning, but you may only feel it after using the aching joints.
Step 2. Control body weight
Being overweight can cause or increase complications associated with arthritis. This condition can also trigger pain. Try making gradual changes in your life to lose weight, such as exercising more often and eating healthier. Develop the muscles around the joints, but don't let you damage the joints.
- Focus on stretching and exercise movements that will gradually increase your strength. Avoid running, jumping, playing tennis, and doing high-impact aerobic exercise.
- Try exercising as the day progresses. This way, you won't feel too stiff when you wake up in the morning.
- These lifestyle changes must be permanent in order for you to maintain your weight over time. It is also important for improving overall health as well as reducing arthritis pain in the long run. Losing weight will help with the degenerative changes seen with aging and wear and tear.
Step 3. Keep moving
In addition to exercise, you need to keep moving throughout the day. The more silent you are, the more pain you will experience after returning to activities. At work, try to get up and move at least once an hour. Regularly adjust your sitting position, move your neck from side to side, change the position of your hands, and bend and stretch your calves whenever possible.
If the calf pain from arthritis is very severe, try getting up and walking around every 30 minutes
Step 4. Work with a physical therapist
If you lose motion in your joints, your doctor may suggest seeing a physical therapist. He or she can show you exercise methods to help strengthen and relax your muscles and joints so you don't get too stiff.
He or she may also be able to design a personal fitness program, with strengthening and cardiovascular exercises, that will help with joint pain in addition to maintaining fitness and weight
Step 5. Do yoga
Yoga is a combination of body poses, deep breathing techniques, and meditation. Yoga will help reduce joint pain and stiffness, in addition to all the stress you're feeling. Make sure you listen to your body and do only poses that promote movement and don't hurt your joints.
Start slowly then increase the movement as you get used to it
Step 6. Assist with body movement
If you suffer from extreme pain, use tools to help with movement or methods that don't put too much stress on the joint. Try using a cane whenever your joints are too sore. In this way, some of the pain in the aching joint will be reduced. In addition, the swelling will also stop and you will feel more comfortable.
You can also try using an elevated toilet seat, or a special bathtub to relieve pain or deal with difficulty moving
Step 7. Reduce the pressure on the joints
To avoid overworking the joints and creating additional pain, learn to reduce the pressure. Incorporate new objects or activities into your daily life to preserve and protect joints. Try using a ballpoint pen with a larger body, so that it is easier to hold and use for writing. Buy items with larger, longer handles so you don't put too much effort into carrying them.
- You should also pick up things using stronger joints instead of smaller ones. For example, when carrying a heavy bag, hold it with your elbow joint instead of your wrist or fingers.
- You can also buy plastic plates to make them easier to carry, use, and wash.
Step 8. Use heat energy
When suffering from arthritis pain, one of the best ways to relieve it is to use heat. Heat relaxes muscles and helps reduce pain. Try applying a heating pad, taking a hot bath or shower, or applying paraffin wax to the painful area.
- Be careful not to get burned. Never use a heating pad for more than 20 minutes at a time.
- Also use cold energy for muscles. In this way, the pain associated with arthritis will be turned off.
Step 9. Make a liquid Epsom salt bath
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate, which is a naturally occurring mineral and has been used for years to reduce pain. The high content of magnesium helps relieve joint pain if you soak it in water.
- To make it, fill a large bowl with warm water and add cup of Empsom salt. Soak the painful joint in the bowl for at least 15 minutes.
- If the joint doesn't sink easily (such as the knee joint), try adding Epsom salt to a tub of warm water and soaking in it.
Step 10. Sunbathe more often
Instead of relying solely on food for vitamin D, use sunlight. Try going out and sunbathing without sunscreen for 10-15 minutes, once every two days. This can help the body to absorb lots of vitamin D in a natural way, without risking skin problems due to UV rays from the sun.
Leave your hands free of sunscreen cream if you are worried about skin. In fact, just a little bit of unprotected skin can help to absorb more vitamin D
Step 11. Quit smoking
Smoking is bad for general health, but it can also cause arthritis pain. Cigarettes put chemicals that cause stress on the connective tissue in the body, making you more susceptible to arthritis pain.
Try candy, chewing gum, or quit smoking altogether
Method 3 of 3: Coping with Pain with Diet
Step 1. Eat bananas
Bananas are good for arthritis because they can help combat the cause. Bananas contain a lot of potassium, which is important for regulating cell function properly. Bananas also have vitamins C, B6, and folate, which are useful for boosting the immune system.
Try snacking on them or eating them with meals
Step 2. Add turmeric to food
Turmeric is a spice that can be added to food to help relieve arthritis pain. Turmeric contains curcumin, a chemical that reduces joint pain and swelling by blocking cytokines and enzymes that trigger inflammation.
There are many recipes that you can add turmeric to, including main dishes to desserts
Step 3. Use more ginger
In a recent study, ginger was shown to have similar anti-inflammatory properties to ibuprofen, and, in extract form, can also function like a steroid. Incorporate ginger into more recipes, from chicken to desserts.
You can also use ginger to make tea, and drink it for pain relief
Step 4. Eat foods that contain vitamin D
People with arthritis need to take care of their bone health, which means they need more vitamin D. Those who take corticosteroids need it even more, because this type of medication reduces the amount of vitamin D in the body's system. Try eating fish, especially salmon, mackerel, or herring. 85 grams of fish contains vitamin D intake according to daily needs.
- You can also eat raw fish, as it contains even more vitamin D than cooked fish.
- Also try to eat dairy products rich in vitamin D, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt every day.
Step 5. Drink green tea
Tea contains an antioxidant known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This substance is able to block the production of molecules that cause joint damage. This way, the pain will be reduced because the joints are not too damaged.
Research shows that 2-3 glasses of green tea a day can provide maximum antioxidant benefits
Step 6. Eat foods that contain probiotics
Probiotics, also known as "good" bacteria, can help with pain. In a recent study, foods such as yogurt, which contain these bacteria, were able to significantly reduce arthritis pain. Probiotics can also improve the function of body movement.
Try to eat at least one serving of yogurt containing probiotics every day
Step 7. Eat foods that contain sulfur
The body uses sulfur to carry out its detoxification process, but its content can be reduced when you take NSAIDs and other pain relievers. To restore its supply, consume foods rich in sulfur and have certain taste sensations, such as garlic and shallots.
You can also eat sulfur-rich vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts
Step 8. Increase your intake of foods that contain magnesium
Magnesium relaxes muscles and nerve endings, and relieves pain. Magnesium also helps bones form minerals. Try eating more magnesium-rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables and nuts.
You can also take supplements, but natural foods can be processed better by the body
Step 9. Eat more sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a good solution for people with arthritis. Sweet potatoes are rich in beta carotene, vitamins A and C, minerals, anthocyanins and biodegradable fiber. All of these ingredients help relieve pain, inflammation, and promote joint health.
