Temporary Relief for Arthritis Joint Pain

In addition to medications and supplements there are many methods to provide temporary  or short term relief for joint pain flare ups. These methods also help make it easier to exercise. Discuss these methods with your doctor before starting.

• Moist Heat - Use hot packs, warm towels, a bath or shower for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day. Talk to your doctor or therapist about deep heat from short waves and ultrasound. Deep heat can not be used however can not be used on acutely inflamed joints.
• Cold - Try a bag of ice or even a frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Caution, people with Raynaud’s phenomenon should not use this method.
• Hydrotherapy - Exercise in a pool can decrease the pain and stiffness because it takes the weight off your joints. Some people find that the heat and gentle movement of whirlpools are good at relieving joint pain.
• Mobilization Therapies - These include traction (gentle, steady pulling), manipulation (using the hands to restore normal movement to stiff joints) and massage. When done by a professional physical therapist or massage therapist these can help control joint pain add joint motion and provide muscle and tendon flexibility.
• TENS - In TENS (trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), electrodes are placed on the skin and an electrical shock is transmitted through them. These machines can be costly, ranging from $80 to $800. The treatment is time consuming, yet the unit can be worn throughout the day and turned on and off during the day.

Details provided by the National Institute of Health.

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