There are a lot of things you can do to manage your arthritis. Practice simple strategies to reduce symptoms and get relief so you can pursue the activities that are important to you. These strategies will also help you manage other chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or obesity.
A common theme across guidelines in the management of arthritis and joint pain is that pain management strategies should be flexible, include options that do not involve medication, and be tailored to meet the needs of the patient.
Ask for help.
Talk to your doctor if you have joint pain and other arthritis symptoms. It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible so you can start treatment.
Early and effective treatment is important to minimize symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse, especially for certain forms of arthritis, like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
Be active.
Physical activity is a simple and effective, drug-free way to relieve arthritis pain. Being physically active can reduce pain, and improve function, mood, and quality of life for adults with arthritis.
Regular physical activity can also contribute to improved sleep and support bone health, brain health, and weight control. Physical activity has been shown to reduce your risk of developing other chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, and help you manage these conditions if you already have them.
Stay as active as your health allows and remember that some physical activity is better than none. It can be helpful to find others to exercise with or join a community-based physical activity program, especially one focused on exercisers with joint pain and arthritis.
At-home exercise therapy or formal physical therapy can help joint pain, mostly by strengthening the muscles around the joints, and improving balance.
Manage your weight.
Losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight is particularly important for people with arthritis. For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight reduces stress on joints, particularly weight-bearing joints like the hips and knees.
In fact, losing as little as 10 to 12 pounds can reduce pain and improve physical function for people with arthritis. At any age, low-impact, arthritis-friendly physical activity (for example, walking) combined with healthy dietary changes can help you lose weight.
Protect your joints.
Joint injuries can cause or worsen arthritis. Choose activities that are easy on the joints like walking, bicycling, and swimming. These low-impact activities have a low risk of injury and do not twist or put too much stress on the joints. Learn more about how to exercise safely with arthritis.
Injuries to joints from sports, work, or vehicle accidents can increase the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Take steps to prevent or minimize joint injuries to reduce the risk of developing or worsening osteoarthritis. Actions include wearing protective equipment, seatbelts, and avoiding repetitive motion joint damage.
Put your mind to work.
Studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy, a psychological, goal-directed approach in which patients learn how to modify physical, behavioral, and emotional triggers of pain and stress, is a helpful strategy in managing joint pain from arthritis.
Try an over-the-counter pain reliever or anti-inflammatory.
Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil® or Motrin®) and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to be effective in the symptomatic treatment of joint pain from arthritis.
It is important to take a safe dose and these medications should not be taken by people with certain conditions or allergies, or who take certain medications. Always check with a doctor before beginning any medication, even a supplement or over-the-counter medication.
Emerging evidence suggests that over-the-counter medications are safer and more effective for managing long-term arthritis pain than opioids. A recent study of individuals with knee and hip osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, found that after one year, people who took over-the-counter medications had a greater reduction in the severity of their pain than people who took opioids.
