#1 Activity pacing
Lighten your schedule and ask for help when you need to. Take breaks during the day to save energy and protect joints.
#2 Try Hot and Cold Treatments
Apply heat or cold with a hot/cold pack. Heat improves blood flow, easing joint stiffness. Cold helps reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels. Either or both may help ease the pain. This can soothe the pain in joints. Alternating hot and then cold packs can really provide relief.
#3 Relaxation techniques
Relax your muscles and slow down your thoughts. Try deep breathing, guided imagery and visualization.
#4 Massage
Massage can help reduce pain, improve joint function and ease stress and anxiety.
#5 Topical treatments
Pain creams can be rubbed on the skin over a painful joint. They may contain NSAIDs, salicylates, or counterirritants like capsaicin or menthol.
#6 Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the practice of inserting fine needles at special points into the body. Some research has found it may help relieve pain.
#7 Surgery
At some point, you might have to consider joint surgery to repair joints and improve your function. Hip and knee replacements are the most common surgeries for people with RA and are quite effective. But several other joints, including hand joints, also may be replaced to improve mobility and relieve pain.
#8 Physical Therapy and Exercise
Regular physical activity is an important piece of your overall treatment plan. It can help preserve range of motion in your joints and strengthen the muscles that support them.
Many people with RA benefit from working with an experienced physical therapist (PT). A PT can create a strength and mobility program for you and show you how to move in ways that will help and won't cause further damage. A physical therapist can also teach you pain relief techniques and prescribe splints and braces to support damaged joints. Popular and safe options for people with RA include walking, swimming, water exercise, low-impact aerobics and stationary cycling.
Getting control of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the inflammation that fuels it involves medication, physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle. You should work closely with your doctor and other health care professionals to create a treatment plan that works well for you.
