Health

5 best ways to relieve and prevent joint pain naturally

Dec 15, 2015

Millions of people around the world experience joint pain that also affects their life. They aren’t able to do things they did before, their mobility becomes quite limited, and living with pain that keeps coming back isn’t the easiest thing in the world. However, you don’t have to put up with the pain and suffer through it. Your doctor can prescribe medications and you can, also, relieve or prevent joint pain in a natural manner as well. This article brings you 5 natural ways of relieving and preventing joint pain.

Joint pain types

Before we move on to see the best natural ways to relieve joint pain, let’s talk about the types associated with it. There are more than 100 types of arthritis and joint pain. We’re going to see what the most common ones are below.

Osteoarthritis

It is the most common type of joint pain and it’s also known as degenerative arthritis. It is a “wearing out” condition that involves breakdown of cartilage and bones. It happens when your joints are overused. Usually, this type of arthritis develops as you age, but obese people can get it as well.

The most commonly affected joints are knees, hips, feet, and spine.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Causes the synovium, a thin layer of tissue in the joint cavity, to thicken and become inflamed. It is classified as an autoimmune disease. This type of arthritis affects women 3 times more than men. Furthermore, it also has the potential to affect other organs in the body such as heart, lungs, and eyes.

Psoriatic arthritis

The affected person has psoriasis or inflammation of the skin as well as inflamed joints or arthritis. Usually, this condition develops between ages of 30 and 50, but some individuals can develop it in early childhood as well. It can affect only one or multiple joints. For example, some people can have it on both knees while others on only one.

Post-traumatic arthritis

It develops after a severe injury in which the bone and cartilage don’t heal properly. In turn, the joint loses its smoothness which leads to wear and tear.

After we’ve seen the most common types of joint pain, let’s move on to best ways to relieve or prevent it naturally.

Lose weight

If you are overweight or obese, then your weight plays a big impact on the severity of joint pain you experience. Why? It’s because extra weight puts extra pressure on your joints, particularly knees, hips, and feet. The severe pain can significantly limit your mobility. Reducing the pressure on your joints can improve your mobility, decrease pain you feel, and prevent further damage to your joints. Plus, losing weight will benefit your overall health as well.

Avoid eating unhealthy foods and opt for foods rich in vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids etc.

Exercise

Most people associate joint pain with resting in bed or avoiding moving. However, that’s a big mistake. Resting in bed all day won’t help you recover from the pain. In fact, it can even aggravate it. In order to stay flexible and functional, your joints have to move which is why you should remain physically active and get some rest after exercises.

Ideally, people who suffer from joint pain can benefit from low-impact exercises like water aerobics or swimming as they allow you to flex your joints without stressing them. Regular exercise maintains flexibility of your joints with results with decreased pain sensation.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an integral part of the traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting needles into specific points on your body. The primary purpose of acupuncture is to re-route the energy flow and restore the balance in your body. This relaxation technique is beneficial for individuals with joint pain.

Naturally, you should make sure you go to a professional with positive customer experiences.

TIP: you can also meditate. Meditation reduces stress and enables you to cope with it better.

Hot and cold therapy

Take a longer, warm shower in the morning to ease the stiffness of your joints. Also, you can use an electric blanket or heating pad at night to keep joints loose. This hot therapy prevents joint pain.

However, if you experience joint pain at the moment, then applying ice pack onto the affected area will relieve the pain. Remember to wrap the ice pack in a towel before you apply it to the affected joint.

Supplements

There is a wide range of all-natural supplements on the market that relieve joint pain and improve joint flexibility. Some herbs that can be found in these supplements include devil’s claw, Gingko Biloba, stinging nettle etc.

Prior purchasing, do a little research about different product. Check whether the customers who’ve tried it are satisfied with the product, ingredients they contain, and always consult your doctor before you buy a product.

Conclusion

Joint pain can impact your mobility, but luckily there are a lot of things you can do to relieve and prevent that pain. Tips from this article are easy to implement, but they do wonders for the pain you experience. Remember, healthy lifestyle is always the key to feeling better.