HealthActions: Helping Arthritis Pain

N E W S L E T T E R

DISCOVER CREATIVITY WITHOUT ARTHRITIS HOLDING YOU BACK

See Inside • Understand Your Arthritis Pain • 6 Food Choices to Help Ease Arthritis Pain • Exercise Essentials • Healthy Recipe

When you experience an injury, dealing with the pain that comes as part of the aftermath is expected. While painful, most of the time when recovering from an injury you can find comfort in the knowledge that the pain is temporary. As your body heals, as you go through the motions of building your muscle mass back and improving flexibility with physical therapy, you know that, in time, you will feel like yourself again. This knowledge gives you something to work towards, and helps the pain feel more manageable—even when it is intense, and never-fleeting. Arthritis pain is different. Arthritis doesn’t develop as a result of an injury, but insteaddevelopsovertimeasaresultofchronicuse,orevenasaresult ofgeneticdisposition. Thiscanmakedealingwiththepainofarthritiseven 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 ArthritisPain: Osteoarthritis is themost common chronic condition to affect the joints. Almost 30 million adults in the United States strugglewith thecondition,andwhile itcan influenceanyoneofanyage, it most frequently develops among those who are most prone to overuse— those who are over the age of 65.

Arthritisoccurswhen there isabreakdownof thecartilage thatcoversthe ends of the bones. This cartilage is what allows the joints in the elbows, ankles,kneesandhips tomovewith freedom.Withoutcartilage,thebones would rub against one another with each movement, and would cause extreme pain. As the cartilage breaks down, so, typically, does the bone, and as the shape of the joint changes it becomes even more difficult for it to functionsmoothly.Furthermore, the ligamentsand tendonsaround the joint will often stiffen, and the muscles surrounding the joint will weaken, making it altogether more difficult and painful to move. While arthritis pain typically develops gradually, the realization 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 associationwithachange inweatherorotherenvironmentalcircumstance. Overcoming Arthritis Pain: Turning to over the counter pain medications to cope with arthritis pain is ineffective as a long-term solution. While some of the medications may provide temporary relief, they will not help you overcome the pain for good. Physical therapy, on the other hand, can provide actual relief from arthritis by helping to rebuild strength in the joints through targeted movements and flexibility exercises.

ARE YOU LETTING ARTHRITIS PAIN HAVE A SAY IN YOUR DAY? CALL TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT OR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!

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