Although there is no cure for most forms of arthritis, various therapies can help your elderly loved one manage symptoms and improve their overall quality of life. The choice of treatment depends on the type of arthritis, the severity of symptoms, the patient's general health, and other factors. In addition to medications prescribed, these treatments might help ease your loved one's pain.
Heat and Cold
Some people find relief in applying either heat or cold, or both, sequentially. Apply either heat or cold for only 15 minutes at a time.
For heat, use warm towels, hot packs, or a warm bath or shower. Other ways of making things warm and soothing are to use flannel sheets, heat up clothes in the dryer for a minute or two before putting them on, or use hot water bottles on the sore areas.
For people who have morning stiffness, using a heating pad before they get up can help. Or they can take a warm shower when they first get out of bed.
Cold helps numb the painful area and be helpful for especially painful and swollen joints. Use an ice pack (sold at pharmacies and supermarkets) – or a bag of frozen peas or corn can be molded to the shape of the body.
Avoid Excess Stress on the Joints
Assistive devices can make tasks at home and work easier. Look for kitchen items such as rubber jar openers and reachers; dressing tools like zipper pulls and buttoning aids and bathroom devices such as tub bars and handrails.
Over-the-Counter Creams
For mild arthritis pain, an over-the-counter cream or non-prescription analgesic may help temporarily relieve pain. They generally have a combination of ingredients which includes capsaicin, which is the ingredient in chili peppers that makes them hot. When applied to the skin, these creams deplete a pain neurotransmitter called substance P. This temporarily desensitizes the area to pain. The relief from these creams is temporary and the product must be reapplied regularly.
Shoe Wedges and Insoles
Placing wedges or insoles in the shoes may reduce pain in the knees while walking, Wedges on the bottom or sole of the shoe will alter the gait to reduce the forces transmitted to the knee joint. Wedges and insoles can be purchased at most drugstores or supermarkets.
Supplements
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate may help relieve symptoms. The reason Glucosamine Glucosamine chondroitin MSM are chemicals that are found naturally in the body, and strengthens cartilage around the joints.
Also, stock up on calcium. Inflammatory arthritis conditions accelerate bone loss, so getting the optimum calcium intake is critical. Recommended daily doses of calcium are 1,200 mg for adults over 50.
Pain Relievers
Over-the-counter products like acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen are also excellent for reducing swelling or inflammation of arthritic joints.
Exercise
Exercise is one of the best treatments for arthritis. It can decrease pain and increase flexibility. A well-rounded workout routine for people with arthritis includes flexibility exercises to increase range of motion, aerobic exercises to improve endurance and decrease fatigue, and strengthening exercises to improve muscle fitness. The amount and form of exercise will depend on which joints are involved, how stable the joints are, whether or not the joint is swollen, and whether a joint replacement has already been done. Ask your doctor or physical therapist what exercises are best.
Weight Loss
Excess weight puts more pressure on joints, causing more pain. That is why losing weight can help and is another reason why exercise is important for arthritis patients, as exercise helps with weight control.
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