Arthritis is a progressively more painful ailment that’s found in the joint, often manifesting in the fingers, limbs, and neck. It’s generally associated with the continuous use of a particular area, and because of this, it’s more commonly found in the elderly but can also happen through day-to-day use. Anti-inflammatories are the most common treatment, but these can cause their own problems when used over a prolonged period of time, or you may want to consider additional treatments to compound the effects of your prescribed drugs. There are several things you can do, including taking medication to reduce the symptoms of arthritis.

Try to lose some extra weight

Arthritis pain is largely found in the joints, and any additional weight or pressure on them will add to the pain. If you’ve developed or are developing arthritis in your lower body especially, including your knees or hips, this can be very helpful to remove some of the strain on the joints and will help to prevent further pain in the future.

Exercise more

Related to the last point, exercise can help you not only to lose weight but also keep the joints moving naturally. Low-stress exercise, like swimming, can help get blood into the joints and strengthen the muscles without causing additional damage or pain.

Hot and cold treatment

Hot and cold treatment can help arthritis pain massively. The two work together to both reduce inflammation and relax the muscles around the painful areas. Hot and cold is often used by athletes to aid with recovery after a strenuous workout and uses the same principles. Try to take a long hot shower in the morning to loose off your joints and get blood into your muscles that will help to reduce any stiffness. You can also use deep heat creams or heat pads for the same effect. You can then alternate this with cold therapy, either by running two baths and alternating between them or simply by changing the temperature of the water in the shower. You can also use cold packs or ice packs wrapped in a tea towel to give yourself cold therapy at home. Cold therapy can ease painful joints and reduce inflammation in painful areas.

Use medication

At-home treatments work well but don’t forget the power of modern science, and that over-the-counter medicine, when used appropriately, can be very effective. Make sure to see your doctor often, and ask about your options. There may also be some supplements you can take, as well as your medication to get a more significant overall effect. You can see Zach Attack Supplements for more info.

Get a massage

A massage, similar to hot and cold treatment, targets the muscles around the painful joint. Through massage, your muscles will relax and help to relieve the pain caused by your arthritis. A gentle massage will be preferred to an intense sports massage to start with to make sure that no additional pain is being caused accidentally.