Ease Hand Pain and Arthritis Flare-ups
Posted on: May 15, 2019
Arthritis is a common disorder that affects millions of Americans every year. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which happens from wear and tear of the cartilage in between the bones. People who suffer from this condition are likely to suffer from a flare-up without provocation. Thankfully, most cases of arthritis are untreatable.
Continue reading to learn ways to ease your hand pain and arthritis flare-ups.
Get a Massage
Routine massage therapy can help reduce any pain and discomfort in the arthritic joints. There are two ways you can go about this; you can work with the massage therapist to learn how to perform self-massage or attend regularly scheduled appointments with a licensed massage therapist. Make sure to check with your doctor to get recommendations on skilled massage therapists.
Eat a Better Diet
A healthy diet can help ease the discomfort of arthritis. One such nutrient everyone with arthritis needs to incorporate into their diet is omega-3 fatty acids. Most fish oils contain this and are proven to reduce any pain and stiffness in the joints. A good diet can help you lose weight, which can also reduce the painful symptoms of arthritis.
Another fatty acid to incorporate into your diet is gamma-linolenic acid or GLA. This is found in plants like primrose, hemp, and borage. Before taking these and any supplements, make sure to clear it with your doctor first.
Exercise More Often
Exercise contributes to more than just weight loss. Moving regularly will help people with arthritis maintain their joint flexibility. However, exercising such as running do more harm than good. Low-impact exercises like swimming will allow you to flex your joints without having to strain them.
While it’s always in your best interest to try and tackle this with a natural approach, there’s nothing wrong with using anti-inflammatory drugs when necessary. Flare-ups can be devastating and in some cases, natural remedies won’t have any impact.