Pain Management Tips For Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex condition that causes an array of symptoms, including tiredness, weakness, and weight loss. The most pronounced symptom, though, is joint pain. Often, taking the medications your doctor prescribes will go a long way towards alleviating joint pain, but it won't eliminate the pain entirely. Patients with RA can therefore benefit from trying these additional pain management strategies as well.
Self-Massage
The joint pain associated with RA is closely related to inflammation. If you can reduce the inflammation, you will thereby reduce the pain. Massaging your sore joints will help increase circulation to the area, which will help drain the inflammatory fluid away. This should ease your pain. You can take a moment to massage your joints whenever they feel sore. Many patients benefit from doing this first thing in the morning before they even get out of bed. This way, their first steps out of bed are more comfortable.
Capsaicin Creams
Capsaicin creams are usually advertised as being a good choice for osteoarthritis. However, they can work for patients with RA, too. You apply the cream to the sore joint, and the capsaicin in the cream makes your joint feel warm. What it's really doing is drawing circulation to the area, which as described above, helps alleviate inflammation and pain. Capsaicin is a natural ingredient—it's actually what makes hot peppers hot—so you can feel good about applying it to your body.
Take Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are widely known for their heart health benefits, but did you realize they're good for your heart because they decrease inflammation in your blood vessels? Actually, they reduce inflammation all throughout the body, which makes them useful for RA patients, too. Typically, you will need to take one or two omega-3 capsules per day, according to the instructions on the bottle. You can also try eating more foods that are high in omega-3s; chia seeds, walnuts, and flax seed are all good choices, as is fish.
CBD Oil
CBD oil is becoming an increasingly common option for patients dealing with any sort of joint pain, including joint pain due to RA. You can apply CBD oil topically to your joints, or you can look for a thicker lotion or cream made specifically for this purpose. Some people also take CBD oil orally for RA relief, but you should check with your doctor before doing this.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be tough to manage, but with the pain management remedies above, you can do it.
For more pain management treatment options, talk to your doctor.
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