Home Remedies For Managing Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a disease with a long and painful course. There are medications available which can counter the pain and ease the symptoms. However, there are also home remedies, which provide an easy and cost-effective way of coping with the symptoms. These techniques, however, work by trial and error. What works for others, may not work for you. Under the following headings we can look into some of these methods.
Hot and cold compresses
The age old method of using heat and cold packs for pain relief happen to be effective for osteoarthritis pain too. Both use different mechanisms to achieve that. You can use trials with both, hot and cold packs and monitor which works best for you.
Heat can be used in the form of heat pads, warm compresses, an electric heating device, warm paraffin wax, or a hot water bottle. They should be applied 2-3 times a day for 20 minutes at least. Heat is shown to relax the sore muscles and improve the circulation by dilating the blood vessels in the affected area. This can primarily help in relieving the stiffness in the joint.
Cold pads, ice bags etc. can also be used in a technique called cryotherapy. Cold can cause constriction of the blood vessels in the area, which is more beneficial in relieving pain as it numbs the area and decreases the sensory nerve supply from that area. Cold packs are seen as more useful in relieving the edema and swelling in the joint than the heat pads. Ice should never be used directly on skin and a towel etc., should always be used as an intermediate between the skin and ice.
Epsom salt bath
Epsom salt works more than a spa for osteoarthritis patients. Epsom salt has two main ingredients, magnesium and sulfate. Magnesium specifically is very effective in reducing pain and signs of inflammation. It relaxes the sore muscles, and loosens the stiffness in the joint. This is just another simple step in addition to warm water baths. Add the salt in warm, but not hot, running water. Adding Epsom salt can do the trick by simply soaking the affected joints in the water baths for 20-30 minutes. It has no side effects, and is worth trying for the aching joints.
Support and joint aids
Certain assistive devices are now in the market that are designed to mechanically reduce the arthritis pain, and reduce pressure. Commonly known as braces, these can be found online or in medical stores. They can also be made customized to individual requirements.
Most commonly functional and supportive types of braces are used for osteoarthritis. Ankle braces, stretchable corsets for the spine OA, and unloader or hinged braces for knee OA work by shifting the pressure from the sore joint, and providing extra support to the weak tendons. They increase stability and confidence of the patient, and are often given as assistance for effectiveness of medicines. Customized shoes and foot inserts, and canes also serve a similar purpose. Splints and wrist braces can be used in OA of the hand.