Top 3 Alternative Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
If you've been diagnosed with  rheumatoid arthritis, the single best way to fight the disease is with medication. Still, as effective as RA drugs are, they can't do everything.
EXERCISE
There are several complementary treatments out there that can help you control RA symptoms. Exercise is at the top of the list, even though the prospect of exercising may seem painful - the right kind of activity can help prevent RA-related pain and improve mobility.
Physical activities that relate to flexibility include Range of Motion (ROM) exercises and stretches. ROM exercises help maintain or restore normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. Weight-bearing exercises can help keep your bones strong. Physical activity also heads off depression, which can plague anyone coping with a chronic condition, including RA.
Arthritis causes you not just pain; it also causes your joints to be severely stressed. Maintaining flexibility and strength is very important. The best way to do that is to exercise. You have to choose an activity that you enjoy doing most, and remember not to overexert yourself.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting on a new exercise program.
FISH OIL
Fish oil has been at the foreground of popular arthritis treatments recently. It helps relieve your painful arthritis symptoms as well as works to reduce inflammation.
Fish oil is derived from cold-water oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids – DHA and EFA. Your body can use omega-3 fatty acids to make a chemical known as resolvin D2, which fights inflammation. Because arthritis pain involves inflammation, fish oil can help to relieve pain and symptoms over time.
Fish oil also has almost no negative side effects as compared to traditional over-the-counter medications and prescriptions. While fish oil cannot repair or reduce existing damage, it offers relief in several other areas.
RA patients in the studies that found fish oil helpful took high doses, typically 3-4 capsules..
HEAT & COLD THERAPY
Heat or cold therapy works by stimulating your body's own healing mechanism. Heat dilates the blood vessels, stimulates circulation, and reduces muscle spasms. In addition, heat alters the sensation of pain. You can use heating pads, heat lamps, warm bath or heated wash cloth.
Cold compresses reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels. While cold packs may be uncomfortable at first, they can numb deep pain.
When using moist heated wash cloth therapy, make sure the cloth is not so hot that you burn your skin. Find a temperature that you can comfortably tolerate, whether using a bath or spa therapy. You can also use moist heat anytime you want additional relief from arthritis pain.
But as with exercise, don't overdo it; talk to a healthcare provider about how to use heat and cold safely.
If you do try alternative therapy for RA Pain, try only one at a time and give it a 4-6 weeks trial to determine its effectiveness. However, if you experience any adverse side effects, report it and discuss it with your healthcare team.
To learn more on effective alternative therapies for arthritis pain go to www.rapossible.com
EXERCISE
There are several complementary treatments out there that can help you control RA symptoms. Exercise is at the top of the list, even though the prospect of exercising may seem painful - the right kind of activity can help prevent RA-related pain and improve mobility.
Physical activities that relate to flexibility include Range of Motion (ROM) exercises and stretches. ROM exercises help maintain or restore normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. Weight-bearing exercises can help keep your bones strong. Physical activity also heads off depression, which can plague anyone coping with a chronic condition, including RA.
Arthritis causes you not just pain; it also causes your joints to be severely stressed. Maintaining flexibility and strength is very important. The best way to do that is to exercise. You have to choose an activity that you enjoy doing most, and remember not to overexert yourself.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting on a new exercise program.
FISH OIL
Fish oil has been at the foreground of popular arthritis treatments recently. It helps relieve your painful arthritis symptoms as well as works to reduce inflammation.
Fish oil is derived from cold-water oily fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids – DHA and EFA. Your body can use omega-3 fatty acids to make a chemical known as resolvin D2, which fights inflammation. Because arthritis pain involves inflammation, fish oil can help to relieve pain and symptoms over time.
Fish oil also has almost no negative side effects as compared to traditional over-the-counter medications and prescriptions. While fish oil cannot repair or reduce existing damage, it offers relief in several other areas.
RA patients in the studies that found fish oil helpful took high doses, typically 3-4 capsules..
HEAT & COLD THERAPY
Heat or cold therapy works by stimulating your body's own healing mechanism. Heat dilates the blood vessels, stimulates circulation, and reduces muscle spasms. In addition, heat alters the sensation of pain. You can use heating pads, heat lamps, warm bath or heated wash cloth.
Cold compresses reduce swelling by constricting blood vessels. While cold packs may be uncomfortable at first, they can numb deep pain.
When using moist heated wash cloth therapy, make sure the cloth is not so hot that you burn your skin. Find a temperature that you can comfortably tolerate, whether using a bath or spa therapy. You can also use moist heat anytime you want additional relief from arthritis pain.
But as with exercise, don't overdo it; talk to a healthcare provider about how to use heat and cold safely.
If you do try alternative therapy for RA Pain, try only one at a time and give it a 4-6 weeks trial to determine its effectiveness. However, if you experience any adverse side effects, report it and discuss it with your healthcare team.
To learn more on effective alternative therapies for arthritis pain go to www.rapossible.com
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