Natural Approaches to Arthritis Pain Relief

Arthritis is a catchall term for a host of conditions that cause pain and inflammation in your joints. More than 54 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of arthritis, and experts predict that this number will reach 78 million by the year 2040. No matter the type of arthritis you suffer from, relief is usually your top priority.

At Advanced Spine Care and Pain Management of New York, our team of musculoskeletal and pain management experts routinely helps our patients return to an active lifestyle that’s free from arthritis pain. While we offer several effective therapies, there’s much you can do on your own to combat the pain that comes with arthritis.

Here’s a look at some natural approaches to pain relief that may help restore your quality of life.

Lose a few pounds

There’s very little that losing weight can’t help when it comes to your health, and it’s especially true of arthritis. Your joints are designed to bear a certain workload, so when you add to their burden by carrying excess weight, you place extra stress on these already hard-working areas. Being overweight can not only bring on an earlier onset of arthritis, it can also greatly exacerbate your existing arthritis.

So, one of the best ways to find relief from arthritis is to, quite literally, lighten the load on your joints through weight loss. Even losing 5-10% of your body weight can make a significant difference in your levels of discomfort.

Get up and move

Your joints are designed to provide you with movement, and they function best when you’re active. We know it’s tough if you’re struggling with pain and stiffness, so we urge you to start out slowly with a simple walk. Once you get your joints moving, you can up your exercise regimen by walking farther and adding some hills to your route. 

Encourage flexibility and movement

Another great way to loosen up stiff and painful joints is through a practice like yoga, which emphasizes stretching and strength. By increasing the range of motion in your joints, you can reduce inflammation and restore your mobility. As well, the strength-training aspect of yoga is a great way to spread out the workload in your joints to neighboring supporting tissues like your muscles.

Spice things up

You can improve the health of your joints from your spice rack by adding more turmeric to your diet. This spice contains curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. You can easily find turmeric in any spice section at your grocery store, and you can experiment by adding it to as many dishes as possible.

Massage it out

Another great way to combat arthritis pain is through regular massages. Not only can a massage loosen up the tight muscles around your joints, it may encourage a better flow of resources in your body. Besides, a massage just feels good.

Try hot and cold therapies

To tackle your inflammation and provide relief from your pain, we recommend hot and cold therapies. For example, if your arthritic knees are flaring up, try applying ice to reduce the inflammation. If you wake each morning to stiff and painful joints, start your day with a nice warm shower or bath to help loosen them up.

If you’d like to explore your treatment options for arthritis further, whether you prefer natural methods or you want to try our pain-management techniques, please contact one of our offices in Staten Island or Hartsdale, New York.