Let's treat your osteoarthritis effectively!
Did you know there are several tips and tricks that help take the edge off the symptoms of painful joints and give back your quality of life? As Pharmacists, we recommend combining multiple treatments to manage pain effectively. The idea is to be holistic: including lifestyle and other techniques alongside medication, as recommended.
But where should you start? Whether the onset of winter brings about stiffness and pain in your joints or you're living with chronic osteoarthritis, having tools to turn to is key. Here are some of our favourite strategies to include in your personalised pain management plan.
10 tips to manage your osteoarthritis, holistically
1. Start early
If winter flares up your OA, start preparing strategies while the weather is still warm, so once winter is here you are already well-practiced.
2. Be consistent
Rather than going all in when symptoms hit, avoid boom and bust by establishing small, sustainable habits you can maintain long-term.
Patrick Carrig
Pharmacist at TerryWhite Chemmart
Westfield Marion, SA
9 ways to treat pain, without medication
Did you know there are several tips and tricks that help take the edge off the symptoms of painful joints and give back your quality of life? As Pharmacists, we recommend combining multiple treatments to manage pain effectively. The idea is to be holistic: including lifestyle and other techniques alongside medication, as recommended.
But where should you start? Whether the onset of winter brings about stiffness and pain in your joints or you're living with chronic osteoarthritis, having tools to turn to is key. Here are some of our favourite strategies to include in your personalised pain management plan.
Patrick Carrig
Pharmacist at TerryWhite Chemmart
Westfield Marion, SA
How to manage your osteoarthritis, holistically
1. Start early
If winter flares up your OA, start preparing strategies while the weather is still warm, so once winter is here you are already well-practiced.
2. Be consistent
Rather than going all in when symptoms hit, avoid boom and bust by establishing small, sustainable habits you can maintain long-term.
3. Understanding
Research osteoarthritis to visualise what is happening. This gives ownership over how a treatment approach assists.
4. Physical activity
Exercise helps keep joints flexible and can help reduce pain. Include a mixture of strength, flexibility and low-impact cardio.
5. Healthy weight
Being overweight puts extra strain on our joints, especially at our knees, lower back and hips.
6. Mind work
Understanding pain and our response to it can limit its impact. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and mindfulness can help.
7. Heat and cold
Apply heat packs to relieve joint and muscle pain. Turn to cool packs to help with swelling.
8. Allied therapies
Physical and occupational therapists provide with exercise programs, modify daily activities, advise on splints or braces and much more.
9. Rest
Getting adequate sleep and rest helps ward off stress and prepare us to better confront our health challenges.
10. Medication
Finally, oral and topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help with swelling, while over the counter pain killers help target pain.