Tips for a better life with joint pain

If you are living with chronic joint pain, you are not alone. The pain, most commonly caused by arthritis or related disorders of the joints, is estimated to affect more than 70 million patients in the United States and about 300 million worldwide, according to orthopedic surgeon Taylor R. Dr. Danfi said. Hog Orthopedic Research Institute Orange County, California.

Joint pain is often associated OsteoarthritisA condition related to aging in which the cushion cartilage of a joint deteriorates over time. “Osteoarthritis can be caused by previous trauma to the joint or by activity, obesity, or degenerative changes due to genetics,” said Dunphy. The knees, hips, fingers, and wrists are the most common sites of this wear-related joint pain and are experienced by most adults later.

[[[[read: Exercises for osteoarthritis.]

arthritis It can also occur from traumas such as car accidents and sports injuries. Dr. W. Kelton Vasilev, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine and hip preservation at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center According to Columbus, Ohio, sports injuries such as lacerations of tendons and ligaments can lead to joint pain.

Autoimmune, rheumatic and inflammatory diseases can also cause frequent or chronic pain in the joints of some people. Here are just a few examples of these conditions:

— Rheumatoid arthritisIn autoimmune diseases, cells of the immune system mistakenly attack healthy tissue in the joints, causing pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion.

— Fibromyalgia, A chronic illness that can cause widespread body pain, fatigue, and lack of sleep.

— goutA type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of urate crystals in joints. Most often it tends to attack the joints of the base of the thumb.

— Lyme disease, A tick-borne bacterial infection that can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including joint pain.

Taken together, the condition that causes arthralgia is “the second most common reason why patients visit doctors,” accounting for about 34% of all visits, said Dunphy. The CDC reports that arthritis is the leading cause of work injury in adults in the United States.

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Pain management tips and suggestions

Joint pain can slow you down and make simple tasks much more difficult, but whatever the cause of the pain, there are ways to manage your condition to improve the experience you live with.

Find support. Julie Eller, Head of Arthritis Foundation’s Patient-Centered Strategy, Help, and Support, said finding a “community of people who can help support you through that experience” will lead to a life with joint pain They say it helps ease. She has lived herself in the form of arthritis for over 18 years. Learning what works for them from others says that it is really worthwhile to live a better life with joint pain and at the same time feel lonely in managing the condition. Arthritis Foundation Live yes! Arthritis network A good place to start.

Do not wipe it. Most of us experience joint pain as we get older. Eller recommends ignoring it or choking until you get older. “Talk to your doctor about your experiences and understand that they are in your control.” Early, proper diagnosis can help slow the progression of osteoarthritis with age. there is. Also, other conditions-there are more than 100 states of arthritis, so the diagnosis may be more than just degenerative osteoarthritis of the garden-appropriate diagnosis and the acquisition of a personalized care plan make the right disease Is important to manage.

Lose weight.. Too much weight puts extra pressure on the joints, which can cause systemic inflammation. So if you’re overweight, dropping a few pounds may improve your joint pain experience. “In a patient with knee arthritis, each pound lost loses 4 pounds of pressure per step,” said Dunphy. In addition, lowering the body mass index (height and weight scale) by more than 2 units, or about 11.2 pounds, “reduced the probability of developing osteoarthritis by more than 50%,” he says.

Eat correctly.. “There is no one-size-fits-all diet for people with arthritis, and no silver bullet to eat it or avoid it to reduce pain,” said Eller. Foods that can cause symptoms In some people. People with arthritis Elimination food We have found that consuming large amounts of dairy products, processed foods, sugar, or alcohol can cause increased inflammation and pain. However, because each person is different, you should discuss your diet with your doctor or dietitian to make sure you are getting enough nutrition. A healthy and diverse diet will always help support your overall health.

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Consider supplements. “Various people say that research on various spices, supplements, and herbal remedies has anti-inflammatory effects that relieve joint pain, but there isn’t much good data behind them.” Anecdotally, however, some people with arthritis have found supplements containing glucosamine to be a little helpful. He is also believed to help combat inflammation and recommends eating a diet high in antioxidants found in leafy vegetables, vegetables, and other plant foods. Discuss with your doctor if adding supplements is a good idea for your situation.

Add physical therapy. ” Physical therapy Dunphy says. “The American Society of Orthopedics strongly recommends physical therapy, and 29 studies have shown that strength training can significantly reduce pain.”

motion. One of the best ways to live better with joint pain is to stay alive. She says that the more exercise you do, the more you can move, so participating in regular exercises for any physical activity you enjoy most will help you live better with joint pain. I can. “Find an activity that brings you joy” and you will be able to stick to it for the long term for the best results.

Reduce the impact. Vasileff also recommends exercise as a key to helping people live better with joint pain, but points out that you may need to adjust what you are doing. Avoid running and other high-impact activities, especially if you have joint pain in your lower legs such as your lower back, knees, or ankles. The unpleasant effects of weight-bearing, high-impact activities can exacerbate joint pain, so instead, use “impacts such as walking, swimming, cycling, using elliptical machines and weight training. Focus on “less aerobic exercise”.

Listen to your body When joint pain increases, Vasileff recommends resting and icing the painful joint to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Combine approaches. According to Dunphy, in addition to losing more than 5% of his total body weight, physical exercise more than three times a week for more than 60 minutes “provides less pain in knee arthritis than either intervention. It was excellent.” Combining many of the above various factors can lead to a better situation with joint pain.

Follow your doctor’s instructions. Finally, your health care provider may recommend taking over-the-counter or prescribed analgesics that can help relieve inflammation and pain in conditions such as arthritis. Always follow your doctor’s instructions when using any medicine.

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