Cold and Hold Treatments

Cold or heat treatments can be used to decrease the pain and increase muscle flexibility when you have rheumatoid arthritis. Cold or heat treatments can be combined with any of the exercises prescribed by your physical therapist.

• It decreases blood flow
• Aids with pain
• Use before any activity
• It will help increases blood flow
• Will help relax your muscles

You can purchase a gel packs that can be kept either cold in your freezer or heated in a normal microwave.

Change Your Lifestyle

• Avoid all impact-loading activities such as jumping, running, etc.
• Reduce any climbing activities such as stairs, climbs, etc.
• Avoid all activity that causes you any prolonged discomfort.
• Change your daily activities and make use of self-help devices
• Avoid sitting in low chairs, or those that push your head forward, this will help to reduce stress on your body when sitting down.

How do I Remain Consistent When Doing Exercise?

• Stay in the habit of doing exercises every day.
• Evaluate your progress on a daily chart, over the weeks you and enjoy your success.
• Make a plan. What time will you do them? How Often? Write it down.
• Find an exercise friend, or use an exercise DVD.

Weight Control and Diet

• Never eat before going to bed
• Take multi-vitamin supplements, calcium and Omega-3
• Eat fruit and veg daily
• If you are overweight, you will make your rheumatoid arthritis worse

Help Control Pain with Pharmacy Medications

Simple tasks may be hard to do when your joints hurt. Some self-help devices shown below may aid minimize pain, stress, discomfort and may help you in accomplishing some of your daily tasks.

• Long-handled grabbers to help pick things up
• Sock and shoe sliders to aid with getting dressed
• Braces to help support your knees
• Wrist and Hand Splints
• Large grips for pens, or use those made of rubber, garden tools and any other hand-held objects.

Use Medication

A large part of the treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is medication. Many medications and drugs are used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, and they fall into a number of classes and categories.

  • COX-2 Inhibitors
  • Pain medications referred to as Analgesics
  • Topical medications such as cream, balms, gels, ointments, lotions
  • Corticosteroids. Beware long term use will cause other problems such as Osteoporosis
  • BRMs which are Biologic Response Modifiers
  • NSAIDs known as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
  • Other drugs include treatments used for gout, fibromyalgia, and osteoporosis
  • DMARDs which are Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs

Arthritis can range from an annoyance to chronic. If you require further advice please visit our Rheumatoid Arthritis Forum

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