How Can You Care for Yourself at Home?
According to Dr Anu Daber, Arthritis is a common health problem in which the joints are inflamed. There are several kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is caused by a breakdown of cartilage, the hard, thick tissue that cushions the joints. It causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, often in the spine, fingers, hips, and knees. Osteoarthritis can happen at any age, but it is most common in older people.
Osteoarthritis never goes away completely, but it can be controlled. Medicine and home treatment can reduce the pain and prevent arthritis from getting worse.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor if you are having problems. Dr Anu Daber said, it’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Osteoarthritis Home Remedies
- Take a warm shower or bath in the morning to relieve stiffness. Avoid sitting still afterwards.
- If the joint is not swollen, use moist heat, like a warm, damp towel, for 20 to 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. Do not use heat on a swollen joint.
- If the joint is swollen, use ice or cold packs for 10 to 20 minutes, once an hour. Colds will help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
- To prevent stiffness, gently move the joint through its full range of motion several times a day.
- If the joint hurts, avoid activities that put a strain on it for a few days. Take rest breaks throughout the day.
- Get regular exercise. Walking, swimming, yoga etc. are good exercises that are gentle on the joints.
- Reach and stay at a healthy weight. If you need to lose or maintain weight, regular exercise and a healthy diet will help. Extra weight can strain the joints, especially the knees and hips, and make the pain worse. Losing even a few pounds may help.
- Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
- If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
- If you are not taking prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
