Diagnosing arthritis may be difficult. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Many symptoms are similar among the different conditions affecting the joints. Arthritis may be generally categorized into the following groups: degenerative arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, metabolic arthritis, and infectious arthritis. Osteoarthritis (also known as degenerative arthritis) is the most common type. Rheumatoid arthritis and gout are two other more common types. To make an accurate diagnosis, a healthcare provider may need to use state of the art equipment like this machine from C-Arm Rentals. Based on the diagnosis, your doctor may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon.
Arthritis actually has over 100 forms besides the ones mentioned before, but the constant among most of them lies in the inflammation and pain its sufferers experience in their joints. Arthritis, a medical condition, can get worse over time. You can stop its progress and improve symptoms with some home remedies that can complement the treatment your doctor prescribes to address and alleviate symptoms.
1. People have used olive oil as a remedy for all sorts of medical afflictions for centuries. You can use olive oil to gently massage your joints every day. Massaging stimulates circulation and reduces swelling and pain. Use quality olive oil for your massaging sessions, you may also use Zilis UltraCell full spectrum hemp topical alternatively. Warm vinegar also works well for massaging the inflamed areas. Go to a health food store and get some extra virgin olive oil and vinegar, then alternate them in massaging your joints.
2. Your joints will feel very sensitive to any kind of physical stress. If you spend a few hours standing or if you exercise, your joints will swell and grow painful. Then you should apply cold to them. You can purchase special ice-holding plastic bags, or you can use frozen foods in your fridge such as a bag of frozen vegetables. Hold the compress on the painful joint for 20 minutes, take a 10 minutes break, and then apply it again. Retake the action until the swelling goes down. Cold reduces swallowing and numbs the area, reducing the pain.
3. If your joints feel hot and tender, don’t apply cold; instead, apply hot compresses. Use the same routine as for the cold compresses. However, if you feel more pain or don’t feel comfortable with either the cold or hot treatment, don’t force it on yourself.
4. Fish oil ingested internally can help with your symptoms. You can choose fish oil supplements or take a spoonful of cod liver oil daily. Although taking fish oil should have no side effects, you should still talk with your doctor before starting the treatments to ensure you suffer no interactions between fish oil and your arthritis medication.
5. Warm baths can help your body relax and make joints less painful. Take a warm bath and add Epsom salt to the water. A few tablespoons of Epsom salt have anti-inflammatory properties. You can find Epsom salt in health food stores.
6. Take some yoga classes. Yoga can work well for you in two ways. First, it provides you with the necessary physical movement to prevent your joints from growing stiff. Second, this relaxing activity boosts circulation and gives you an overall pleasant state of mind. Find a professional yoga teacher and tell him about you medical condition. The instructor should know what type of exercises prove safe for arthritis patients. After a few classes, you can practice yoga at home.
7. Move around as much as possible. Even if you can’t exercise as you did before developing arthritis, take on some mild physical activities, such as taking long walks, riding a bicycle or swimming. Water makes your body feel lighter and releases pressure from the joints.
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