Arthritis Awareness Month is celebrated in May to help the millions of Americans diagnosed with some form of arthritis successfully overcome the challenges of living with this chronic debilitating condition.Arthritis is a broad term referring to a group of debilitating bone and joint conditions that can dramatically impact a person's quality of living. It affects more than 54 million Americans or approximately 1 in 4 adults.
Doctors can prescribe medication to relieve arthritis pain, but they often recommend natural approaches, too. Remember to talk to the doctor before trying any remedy for arthritis, whether it involves medication or not.While there is no cure for arthritis, a lot can help manage symptoms and slow down the disease's progress— here are five ways to treat arthritis.
- Weight Management -Reducing stress on the joints by losing weight can help decrease pain, improve mobility, and prevent further damage to the joints.
- Watch out for food triggers -Possible triggers include fried and processed foods, added salt or sugar in a diet, saturated fats,and refined carbohydrates. Keeping a food diary to track arthritis flares and identifying specific food triggers can help successfully eliminate harmful foods and heal inflamed joints.
- Exercise -Regular exercise helps keep joints flexible.Try to perform low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, or water aerobics to avoid exacerbating painful joint symptoms.
- Heat and cold treatments -May help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation.Heating pads or hot baths can help reduce stiffness in joints. Using cold therapy may reduce joint swelling and pain in case of acute arthritic flare ups.
- Pain Medications-The different types of pain medications prescribed may include analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids.To avoid side effects, ensure taking them only as recommended by a doctor.
Living with chronic pain can cause a lot of physical and mental fatigue. Make a point to ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every day to keep up energy levels high. When tired, our body does not function and increases the inflammatory response and reduces our pain threshold. If these options do not provide sufficient relief, talk with Dr. DiPaolo about additional treatments that can help. There are surgical and non-surgical approaches to help you get relief you need and get back to the activities you enjoy.
Dr. Daneca DiPaolo is a highly-skilled, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and hand specialist located in Grenada, Mississippi. She offers the newest orthopedic techniques, and she provides quality, compassionate, state-of-the-art orthopedic care. For all appointments and inquiries, please call (662) 227-7794 or visit our website @ www.drdipaolo.com.
