Arthritis pain is no laughing matter.

 

The older your senior gets the more likely they are to experience arthritis pain. This type of pain is no laughing matter. Arthritis is a chronic type of joint pain that affects millions of Americans each year. What many may not know is that there are actually many different types of arthritis.  Some of these types of arthritis include fibromyalgia, gout, and lupus.

This chronic pain can be unbearable, but today we will walk through a few tips that might be able to help you senior as their pain increases.

 

Easy Ways To Help Manage Arthritis Pain

 

01. Increase Omega-3 Fatty Acids Intake

Fish and other foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids help to reduce inflammation in your senior’s body. Foods like tuna, salmon, and sardines are excellent choices. There are other foods that are high in omega-3s, too, like flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. Your senior’s doctor can help you to determine how much she needs, and if a supplement might be a good idea.

 

02. Use Hot and Cold Therapy Together

Hot and cold therapies are useful on their own, but your senior might need a little more. Using cold and hot treatments in combination can give her a little more relief. Experiment a bit with when heat therapy works best and when cold treatments work better. With either type of treatment, make sure that neither is on bare skin and make sure that she takes frequent breaks so that she doesn’t burn herself or cause other issues.

3. Find Ways to Move Regularly

Movement hurts when your senior has arthritis. But the irony is that moving a little bit more really does help. If your senior sits still for too long, she’s more likely to get stiff and sore, which contributes to the pain. Getting up every hour or so and doing a few simple stretches can help immensely, as can starting a regular exercise routine.

4. Try Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can be helpful in working out inflammation. It can also help to relax tired muscles that are supporting areas around affected joints. Using massage in conjunction with topical creams for arthritis may help. Some people find that massage is uncomfortable, though, so it’s definitely a case-by-case solution.

5. Work with Her Doctor

The most important step might be to work closely with your senior’s doctor. Every situation is different and her doctor can help you to accommodate other health issues and concerns while you’re helping your senior with arthritis. This can ensure that you’ve got all the bases as covered as possible. If daily activities are difficult for your elderly family member, then having help from senior care providers can make life so much easier for her. They can take over tasks that are either painful or impossible for her to do, freeing up her energy for the things that she can do.

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Care in Mills River, NC, please contact the caring staff at CareHeartedly today. (828) 595-5734.