As you gear up for Halloween, you may be wondering how you’ll manage to keep up with your kids during their costumed trek around the neighborhood, especially since some movement can be good for joint pain, but too much can make the pain worse.
In preparation for Halloween, try out these tricks to treat yourself to a pain-free season.
Tricks for Treating Joint Pain
Joint pain can originate in any of your joints, although the hips, knees, elbows, and joints of the hands are some of the most common. The pain can vary, with some people experiencing stiffness and achiness while others may have a throbbing, burning, or “grating” sensation.
If left unattended, the pain can not only worsen, but it can continue to eat away at your quality of life, keeping you from making memories with your loved ones. However, these tips can help to reduce joint pain:
Understand the Cause
The first course of action when you have joint pain is to understand the cause because this can dictate the ideal treatment. For instance, when to use heat versus cold therapy.
Some of the possible causes of joint pain include:
- Arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
- Bursitis
- Gout
- Tendinitis
- Viral infection
Reaching out to a doctor is the best way to understand the cause of your joint pain so that you know the best approach for treatment.
Apply Heat or Ice
The cause of your joint pain can dictate when ice or heat is preferable. For arthritis, using heat, specifically moist heat (e.g., taking a bath or shower), can help to loosen the joint and relax any stiff muscles. For other types of joint pain, especially those accompanied by inflammation, applying an ice pack for short periods, multiple times a day, can help to offer relief.
Get Moving
Adding movement into your day can help to release tension in the muscles surrounding your joint while also helping to build back up strength and function. When you have joint pain, low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking or swimming, is best as it allows you to move your body without being too strenuous on your sensitive joints.
Stretching, as well, can help to prevent your muscles from shortening as a result of any pain, ensuring you maintain your range of motion.
Reach Out to a Doctor
Some forms of joint pain may require more care than you can provide at home. By meeting with a doctor who specializes in areas prone to joint pain, such as Brian J. Larkin, M.D., whose clinical expertise hones in on the hip and knee areas, you can get to the bottom of your joint pain and receive a more specialized form of care. For instance, corticosteroid injections or hyaluronic acid injections can be given by a doctor to help address joint pain. In cases of severe joint pain, a hip or knee replacement may be needed.
At Orthopedic Associates, it’s our goal to return your mobility. For you, this means that when your kids are joyfully bounding from house to house this Halloween, you’re right there with them, keeping up.