HEALTH &WELLNESS The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
GETTING HELP FOR ARTHRITIS PAIN
Anti-Inflammation & Arthritis One leading form of arthritis treatment is with the use of anti-inflammatory medication. Certain types of arthritis developasaresultofabuild-upof inflammation inthebody. Specifically,thetendonsand ligamentsbecome inflamedas aresultofan internalattackfromthe immunesystem,which istypicallytriggeredbysomecombinationofenvironmental factors.Avoidingcertainfoodsandmovementscanreduce inflammation,and thereby reducepain. Physical Therapy and Arthritis Physicaltherapy ishighlyrecommendedforthetreatment of arthritis because it can strengthen and support the joints throughguidedpracticeofmovementandstrength buildingexercises.Typically,thebestactivitiesforarthritis pain are low-impact activities. Working with a physical therapist is thebestway toensure thatyouarepracticing the best techniques for overcoming your discomfort. There isa long listofhomeremedies thataresaid tohelp with arthritis pain as well, and there is some credibility to some of these concepts. For example, losing weight, exercising regularly, and making some dietary changes suchasreducingcaffeineandsugarconsumptionaresaid to help alleviate pain associated with arthritis. However, before you start making any changes to your lifestyle, it is best to consult with a physical therapist. Contactyourphysicaltherapistbycalling801.293.8888 to learn more about how you can take steps to start improving your posture today.
When you experience an injury, dealing with the pain that comes as part of the aftermath is expected. While painful,mostof the timewhen recovering froman injury you can find comfort in the knowledge that the pain is temporary. As your body heals, as you go through the motionsofbuildingyourmusclemassbackand improving flexibilitywithphysical therapy,youknow that in timeyou will feel like yourself again. This knowledge gives you something towork towards,andhelps thepain feelmore manageable—evenwhen it is intense,andnever-fleeting. Arthritis pain is different. Arthritis doesn’t develop as a result of an injury, but instead develops over time as a result of chronic use, or even as a result of genetic disposition. This can make dealing with the pain of arthritis even more difficult to cope with, as it begs the question: if the pain is coming from inside the joint, is there anything I can actually do about it? Understanding Arthritis Pain Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic condition to affect the joints. Almost 30 million adults in the United States struggle with the condition, and while it can influenceanyoneofanyage, itmost frequentlydevelops among thosewhoaremostprone tooveruse—thosewho are over the age of 65. Arthritisoccurswhenthere isabreakdownofthecartilage thatcovers theendsof thebones.Thiscartilage iswhat allows the joints in theelbows,ankles,kneesandhips to move with freedom. Without cartilage, the bones would
rubagainstoneanotherwitheachmovement,andwould cause extreme pain. As the cartilage breaks down, so, typically, does the bone, and as the shape of the joint changes itbecomesevenmoredifficult for it to function smoothly.Furthermore,the ligamentsandtendonsaround the joint will often stiffen, and the muscles surrounding the joint will weaken, making it altogether more difficult and painful to move. Whilearthritispaintypicallydevelopsgradually,therealization of what you are dealing with can still come as a shock. In some circumstances the pain will appear more abruptly, especially when the pain develops in association with a change inweatherorotherenvironmentalcircumstance. Overcoming Arthritis Pain Turning toover thecounterpainmedications tocopewith arthritispain is ineffectiveasa long-termsolution.While some of the medications may provide temporary relief, theywillnothelpyouovercomethepainforgood.Physical therapy,on theotherhand,canprovideactual relief from arthritisbyhelpingtorebuildstrength inthe jointsthrough targeted movements and flexibility exercises. There is a lot of current research trying to understand whatpreciselycausesarthritis todevelop insomepeople, and not in others. Everyone uses their joints every day, and while it makes sense that so much pressure would cause pain to develop over time, it doesn’t explain why the pain develops when and where it does, and why it happens to some people and not to others.
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