When it comes to living and dealing with arthritis, we know that it is a broad term given to joint pain. Arthritis can flare up at any time and it can be in your hands, feet, hips knees… basically anywhere in your body where your joints meet.
Arthritis is a deteriorating condition, and this means it can worsen over time. This is why we wanted to share 5 at-home remedies to help you ease your arthritis pain when it flare’s up.
Get Exercise
Easier said than done, I totally get it. You have to be able to motivate yourself for that get-up-and-go attitude. But when you do, you will be delighted you did.
Regular exercise can help:
- Improve your mental health – exercise releases the feel-good hormone
- Keep things moving – keeping your joints moving means less stiffness and more flexibility
- Strengthen the muscles around your joints – this can help reduce the pain from arthritis
Some great exercise and fitness options this summer are:
- Swimming
- Water walking
- Golf
- Walking
Feel free to read more about exercise activities that can help ease arthritis pain here.
Hot/Cold Therapy
Hot Therapy:
When it comes to exercise, we are always told to warm up first. This is because warm muscles are happy muscles, they are looser and more flexible, meaning you have reduced the risk of tears and other injuries.
Warming up the area affected by arthritis can help you ease the stiffness, allowing the joint to become more flexible and you will feel more comfortable.
Cold Therapy:
As a child, I was fairly clumsy and constantly tripped, fell, or bashed into something. There was always a bag of peas or an ice pack in the fridge ready for me when I needed them.
Ice or cool packs can help relieve joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. Just remember to always wrap your peas or ice pack. Never apply them directly to your skin.
Weight Management
Now, I am no slim Jim myself, so this is more a ‘’do as I say, not as I do’’ recommendation. Our weight can affect a number of things in our body, but in a nutshell, more weight = more joint pressure. This is especially true when it comes to our feet, knees, hips, and back.
Once again, weight management is easier said than done for most of us but with a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise you can:
- Improve your overall mobility
- Reduce pain
- Prevent future joint damage
A Healthy Diet
I have written about the top 5 foods to avoid when it comes to living with arthritis in the past and they will help you when reviewing your diet and eating habits too.
Do keep in mind that a diet that is rich in fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole foods can help strengthen your immune system and your overall health.
Think about having a more plant-based diet as these foods are rich in antioxidants and can help reduce inflammation. Whereas a diet full of red meat, processed foods, and saturated fats may aggravate inflammation. It really is all about balance.
Meditation, Massage & A Cuppa
Meditation:
There are a number of mediation and relaxation techniques out there to help you lower your stress levels and feel more at peace. From previous blogs, we know that stress will only add to our arthritis pain.
There are many online videos with mediation techniques, Yoga classes, or mindfulness apps that can help you get started on the road to relaxation.
Massage:
Nothing relaxes me more than a massage. The soothing music, delicate lighting, and intoxicating smell of citrus fruits and flowers in the room. It’s like heaven on earth!
Of course, with COVID-19, going for a massage had made things difficult. You could ask your partner to help or even learn a trick or two for arthritis massage techniques to help you feel better and relax.
Enjoying a Cuppa Pain-Free:
Arthritis can hinder our day-to-day activities. Whether it’s the cleaning of the house, making dinner or simply, popping the kettle on for a cuppa.
I don’t know about you, but a cup of tea to me means a few minutes to stop kick back, and relax even if it’s just 5 minutes. What makes it even better is the Uccello Kettle. It was specially designed to allow for safe, steady, and pain-free pouring. Never lift a hot heavy kettle again and always enjoy your cuppa.
Feel free to click here to get your very own Uccello Kettle
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