Joint pain or even chronic pain is something that inevitably comes with aging. As the body gets older every year there are certainly body pains that may arise in the back, hands or other joints in the body.
Finding the Source
It can be hard to figure out how to go about everyday activities or even bear with the pain of arthritis. There are two types of arthritis – osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the more common kind that comes with age. Rheumatoid arthritis is more severe and typically attacks the body in a progressive way.
There are ways to ease the pain particularly with osteoarthritis. Make sure you always consult with your doctor who can prescribe treatments and even prescriptions and other solutions as necessary for your specific pain(s).
Staying Active
While it may seem counterproductive to stay active especially as the pain may seem unbearable, it’s actually best to stay as active as possible to reduce further pain or weakened muscles. By staying inactive can lead to other issues or other unwanted pains.
Low-Impact Options
| There are various ways to stay active and each activity will depend on the individual person but walking at a comfortable pace for you is a simple way to keep the whole body active. Other low-impact activities include water-based exercises which is easier on the joints. If you have access to an indoor pool at a local gym or recreation center, this would be ideal. If access to an indoor pool is not an option, exercises utilizing a chair or other low-impact exercises that do not put stress on the joints are ideal. These can be found on television, YouTube® or even on DVDs. A resistance band with the lightest resistance is another low-cost expensive. |  Often times senior centers or county recreation centers offer classes with the instruction of an expert. In addition to the exercises there is the additional benefit of socialization. |
Alleviate Stress
A sneaky factor that may be associated with the pain is stress. Stress has a way of amplifying the pain of chronic conditions so finding ways to lower the stress and taking care of the mind and body have a double-edged benefit.
Ways to decrease stress include keeping a journal, having a confidante to turn to when feeling overwhelmed or stress seems to be surmounting and finding a relaxing activity or just taking time to unwind.
Treat with Heat...or Keep it Cool!
Another treatment is hot and cold therapy. You can do this by applying a cold press to help reduce inflammation and then using a heating pad to increase the circulation and stimulate some of the body’s natural healing process.
Individually Tailored Care
Other alternative treatments to discuss with your doctor include acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, bio feedback and even meditation. Properly using medication is another useful remedy. Finding the right treatment will depend on the person and what you and your doctor agree is best. Sometimes it may be a game of trial and error until a remedy comes about to decrease the pain.
Our goal is to help your loved ones be as comfortable and self sufficient as possible. Your loved ones will feel right at home with our care team. Give us a call for a free Senior Care consultation!
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