Options for Arthritis Pain Relief

PUBLISHED ON:

September 3, 2019

Over 26% of Americans suffer from arthritis pain. And while there are medications for reducing arthritis pain, many patients want relief from their pain without taking pills.

Fortunately, treatment options are evolving, and arthritis patients have the ability to decide their treatment path alongside their physicians. Having options means creating a treatment plan that fits the patient’s lifestyle, their needs, wants, and corresponds to the severity of their pain.

Commonly, a combination of treatments is most effective for alleviating pain.

arthritis pain options

Treatment Options for Arthritis Pain

1. Physical Therapy

Pain specialists often recommend physical therapy to ease arthritis pain. This type of treatment helps strengthen muscles, reduces joint stiffness, and improves range of motion. Creating exercise plans to improve your ability to perform daily activities like walking, standing, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of the bathtub does not always reduce pain in all arthritis patients, but it can help strengthen the ligaments and muscles that support joints and bones causing pain.

2. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

All pain is transferred on small fibers of the nervous system. Those fibers travel from the affected area to the brain where pain is perceived. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation transmits a signal that masks the pain signals. The electrical current triggers the brain to release endorphins and enkephalins, opiate-like chemicals in the body that relieve pain.

3. Trigger Point Injections

Trigger points are hard “knots” of painful muscles. When arthritis causes muscle pain, trigger points are a common symptom. These injections consist oflocal anesthetic and corticosteroid that is injected into the painful trigger points. Inserting a needle into the bundle of painful muscles allow the muscle tissue to go back to its normal structure.

4. Heat/Cold Therapy

Heat and cold therapies are temporary fixes, but may relieve pain. Heat increases blood flow to the painful area and relaxes the muscles. Cold reduces swelling and inflammation. Cold sensations travel on large nerve fibers, whereas pain signals travel on small nerve fibers. This masks the pain signals.

Heat should be applied two or three times a day for 15-minute intervals. Cold compresses can be applied three or four times a day for 15-minute intervals or until the swelling has reduced.

5. Mind-Body Relaxation Techniques

Learning techniques that help relax your body and your mind can help manage your pain. There is a psychological aspect of chronic pain that can be controlled through the use of meditation, breathing exercises, guided imagery, and relaxation. These methods help decrease stress, therefore decreasing inflammation and pain. Meditating for 20 minutes a day helps relax muscles that tense up with pain.

Breathing exercises have been associated with a decrease in depression, another common symptom of chronic pain like arthritis. Mind-body techniques work on focusing your mind and harnessing negative thoughts that can increase your perception of pain. Practicing meditation and regular relaxation techniques reduces the brain’s response to pain.