Fed up and tired of joint pain due to osteoarthritis? If you’re one of these unlucky individuals, you are definitely not alone. Over 30 million adults in America are affected by osteoarthritis, which is the most common form of the “wear and tear” disease. Those who have osteoarthritis may suffer from mild to severe symptoms of pain, aching, stiffness, decreased range of motion, or swelling. These symptoms are most commonly felt in the hands, hips, and knees.
Although we offer non-surgical treatment for osteoarthritis and conditions like it, there are also a handful of pain management habits you can adopt to ease and manage daily osteoarthritis joint pain. Find the list below!
- Topical treatments are good temporary pain relievers. Creams, sprays, and rubbing ointments can all be applied to the affected joint. But remember, this is not a permanent solution and topical treatments may only relieve your pain for a few hours.
- Medication and prescriptions drugs can also ease arthritis pain temporarily. However, if you plan on coming to us for treatment, we will personally recommend the appropriate medication (if necessary) and advise you on which medication is compatible with an upcoming procedure. As a general rule, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided as they can work against treatment and tamper successful results.
- If your pain is located in your hips, knee, or ankles, making it difficult to move around, we suggest using a supportive device such as crutches or a cane. You can also just keep pressure and weight off the area and rest the joint periodically throughout the day. The rule of thumb is to never push past pain.
- For fitness fanatics, weekend warriors and people who simply like to be active, you’ll be glad to know that regular exercise can help with proper joint movement. Low-impact activities such as walking or swimming are ideal as they put least amount of pressure on the joints yet still keep them moving. Not to mention that regular exercise also increases serotonin production!
- Osteoarthritis pain is another reason to shed an extra few pounds. Maintaining a healthy body weight means that your body doesn’t have to work as hard to support itself – meaning less stress and pressure on your joints. Even if you lose 3-5 pounds, you’ll start to notice a difference.
- Hot and cold therapy are traditional ways of managing daily joint pain and other body aches. Heat therapy promotes better circulation and greater nutrient and oxygen delivery to the joints by opening up the blood vessels. This can be done with a heating pad or warm bath. On the other hand, cold therapy restricts the blood vessels to slow circulation to reduce swelling and inflammation. Generally, heat therapy is best before activity – to get the body warmed up and limber for movement – and cold therapy is best for acute or short-lived pain.
There you have it! A list of tips to help you get through the day if you suffer from osteoarthritis or another joint problem. But, if you’re at your wit’s end and tired of dealing with the constant stiffness and achiness, then you’ll be glad to know we offer Stem Cell Therapy treatments.
By harnessing the body’s innate healing and regenerative potential, we aim to improve pain and function resulting from injured tissue and cartilage damage. To book an appointment with one of our experts, please call our office at (310) 312-8095.
