The five best pain relief methods for arthritis include:

1. Health Education

The first step of arthritis management is understanding the condition and learning about how you can control it. Discuss with your physical therapist and primary care physician what having arthritis means for you.

2. Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle changes including avoiding smoking, managing your weight, keeping your joints active throughout the day, and exercising daily are essential factors in relieving arthritis pain.

3. Medications

Talk with your physician about the different types of medications you can take for arthritis pain and inflammation. Over-the-counter medications, pain killers, and creams that contain capsaicin are a few medication options.

4. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help reduce symptoms, improve flexibility, increase mobility, and improve overall physical function. Your physical therapist can also help fit you for orthopedics, braces, and splints to support your joints.

5. Physical and Emotional Integration

Cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation have proven to be effective methods for arthritis pain treatment. Learning how to mentally overcome your chronic condition is an incredibly important part of arthritis pain management.

Unfortunately, arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that cannot be fully cured. Once the cartilage of your hand has been damaged, it cannot ever be fully repaired. The primary goal of arthritis treatment is to relieve symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, decreased range of motion, pain, redness, and warmth. If you’re suffering from arthritis pain and need it to go away quickly, we recommend hot and cold therapy. Taking a hot shower, using a heating pad, or an electric heating blanket are effective heat treatments for arthritis. Applying a gel ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables to your inflamed joints is another fast method for reducing swelling, pain, and inflammation.

Short term pain management methods for arthritis include the following:

• Hot and cold therapy
• Pain relievers
• Acupuncture
• Massage therapy
• Anti-inflammatory medications

Long term pain management methods for arthritis include the following:

• Physical therapy
• Medical weight loss
• Therapy
• Learning meditation practices
• Reducing anxiety
• Herbal supplements
• Implementing a healthy, anti-inflammatory nutritional plan
 

Though your arthritis condition will never fully go away, it can be effectively managed. It can take anywhere from a few months to a year to control symptoms of arthritis. If you don’t treat arthritis, your joints will continue to worsen over time which can potentially lead to serious complications. This is why it is highly recommended to seek ongoing support and care from a physical therapist.

For further information about arthritis pain treatment at Progressive Physical Therapy, please reach out to our friendly reception. Our team of professionals would love to schedule you for an arthritis consult and discuss a comprehensive treatment plan. Arthritis is a chronic condition that requires lifelong support, management, and treatment. With the right care at Progressive Physical Therapy, any uncomfortable and painful symptoms associated with arthritis can be significantly reduced. If you have any additional questions about arthritis pain treatment in Hinsdale, IL, give us a call any time during our business hours. Progressive Physical Therapy looks forward to your visit soon! For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 15 Spinning Wheel Road Ste. 24 Hinsdale, IL 60521. We serve patients from Chicago IL, Oak Park IL, Lombard IL, Downers Grove IL, Bridgeview IL, and Oak Lawn IL.