Cold and Hot Therapy
Cold and heat treatments can help relieve pain and inflammation due to arthritis.
- Heat therapy can include bath in the morning or taking a long, warm shower to help ease stiffness and use of a moist heating pad or electric blanket to reduce pain and discomfort overnight.
- Cold therapies can help relieve joint pain, inflammation, and swelling. Wrapping a gel ice pack or a pack of frozen vegetables in a towel and applying it to painful joints provides quick pain relief. Never apply ice directly to your skin.
Capsaicin, a product which comes from chili peppers, is used in some topical creams and ointments that are available over the counter. These creams provide warmth that can relieve joint pain.