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Experiencing any pain can be debilitating, more so, if it affects your joints. Joint pain such as that caused by arthritis can significantly affect mobility, especially since it can worsen over time. What do you do when joint pain becomes unbearable? If you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, here are some tips to help you manage joint pain:

Lose Weight

One of the key ways to manage your joint pain is by managing your weight. Putting too much pressure can cause stress on your joints, which makes it more painful. When you lose your extra weight, you can benefit by decreasing your pain symptoms and improving your mobility. It can also act as a protection to prevent any potential damage to your joints. You can ask a nutritionist about effective weight loss programs you can engage in.

Do Exercises

Getting into an exercise routine can help you make your joints flexible and keep your muscles healthy to support your joints. With regular exercise, it is easier for you to achieve your ideal weight. Start slow. Gradually easing into your exercise program can help you manage your joint pain. Do low-impact exercises first, such as swimming, cycling, walking, and yoga.

Have a Healthy Diet

Aside from exercise, you can also lose that unwanted fat by having a healthy diet. Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet can help boost the immune system. Some studies also show that having a plant-based diet can also provide you with tons of antioxidants that reduce the number of free radicals.

Apply Hot and Cold Treatment

Another effective method of managing arthritic pain is the application of hot and cold therapy. When joint pain attacks and causes stiffness, using electric blankets and heating pads can also reduce pain. When joint pain results in inflammation and swelling, you can apply a gel ice pack to remove the pain. Some ointments and creams can also help soothe the pain.

Practice Meditation

Some say that mindfulness can help you train your mind to manage your pain symptoms. Meditation can help you to breathe properly and relax, which helps lower stress caused by arthritis. The American College of Rheumatology and Arthritis Foundation (ACR/AF) recommends patients with joint pain practice tai chi and yoga as part of their meditation techniques. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), mindfulness meditation helps people deal with their depression and stress, which often results from joint pain.

Indulge in Massages

While the ACR/AF does not really recommend massage as a form of treatment, massages can afford temporary relief from pain. Getting regular massages does not cause any problems but may be beneficial in providing indirect resolution of pain by reducing stress. When scheduling a massage, make sure to mention your joint pains and check if the masseuse is experienced in handling joint pains. If you have a physical therapist, you can also ask them about proper self-massaging techniques.

Get Pain Therapy

If the pain is unbearable and it is affecting your mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs), then you might benefit from getting pain therapy from pain centers like Seattle Pain Relief to provide you with arthritic pain medication management that can help you manage your symptoms better.

Do not limit your activities by giving in to your pain. However, you should also not ignore the pain and your symptoms. There are tons of ways available to help you manage your joint pain. You just have to choose which one is best for you.

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