Many people can adjust to dealing with pain temporarily but living with chronic pain is another matter. If you’re trying to live well with aching joints, there’s some good news you need to hear. There’s enough research out there to show that if you make certain changes to your lifestyle, you can be one step closer to alleviating some of the pain that usually disrupts your life.
It’s well documented that physical activity can be helpful in soothing aching joints. By being active you keep the joints flexible, strengthen the muscles, and maintain a healthy weight. However, you have to be selective about which exercises you do.
When your joints ache, it’s best to choose low-impact options such as swimming, cycling, walking, water-based exercise, and tai chi. Certain types of yoga have an additional element of meditation that has been shown to help with pain management.
RELATED: 10 Exercises That Decrease Knee Pain
Certain massages are great for relieving chronic joint pain if done consistently. Of course, this can vary from one person to the other so make sure to consult with your doctor before booking an appointment.
It’s also best to find a massage therapist who has specifically worked with people who have your condition. While being massaged, don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t feel right. While there may be some discomfort as the therapist works, a massage should never make your pain worse.
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When it comes to chronic joint pain, science has some diet recommendations for you. The first thing to consider is cutting out processed and highly refined foods that promote inflammation. Instead, focus on anti-inflammatory foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fatty fish, calcium-rich foods, whole grains, onions, cloves, nuts, cinnamon, as well as turmeric.
There’s even evidence that you can benefit from eating spicy food when you’re feeling significant pain. The capsaicin in these foods has great anti-inflammatory properties.
Doctors also suggest adding up to 4 cups of green tea to your daily routine to manage pain and reduce the likelihood of
cartilage damage.
Whether you’re getting massages or not, you can still reap the benefits of aromatherapy. While there’s little evidence to suggest that these oils have an effect on inflammation, they can alter your mood and make it easier for you to handle the discomfort. Lavender and lemon oils typically influence your body’s release of cortisol, which is relaxing. Interestingly, a few kitchen spices have a similar effect.
If you have marjoram, rosemary, and peppermint, add a little to some olive or coconut oil. Smelling the resulting concoction occasionally will help with the pain.
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If you’d like to try a few natural topical treatments for your aching joints, you have some good options. The first place to start is with cold and heated pads. Both heat and cold can ease inflammation and pain but people have differing success with them.
It’s best to try them and see what works for you. One option is a spicy treatment that uses ground capsaicin to three teaspoons of olive oil. You should get relief from pain because of the anti-inflammatory properties but make sure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
A more soothing option utilizes 4 chamomile tea bags seeped in hot water. After 20 minutes, you can soak a rag in the warm water then apply it to the affected joints. Studies also show that putting crushed ginger on your joints for 15-20 minutes may alleviate swelling and pain.
Even with these helpful lifestyle changes, it’s a good idea to recognize when your doctor needs to get involved. Conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have specific treatment regimens that you’d need to follow to soothe the pain in your joints.
More importantly, if left untreated, these illnesses can cause permanent damage. In most cases, a balanced combination of prescribed medication and lifestyle changes works.
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