Persons living with arthritis or a related condition
often live with pain which is one of the hardest factors experienced with the
disease. In order to know how to combat
the pain you must learn to manage the disease.
The first consideration to determine is which type of arthritis the
patient has. Knowing the particular
arthritis will help to determine the patient’s treatment. Before you begin to develop a treatment
plan, you must understand some concepts regarding pain.
Not all pain is alike
Pain experienced by
arthritis patients is not always the same.
There are many different types of pain just as there are many different
types of arthritis and not all patients will respond the same to
treatment. It may be necessary to try
several different treatments before finding one that works for the patient.
Why pain occurs…
Pain occurs because it is telling us that something
is wrong. When an injury is
experienced, nerves in the area where the injury originated release chemical
signals and other nerves transmit the signals to the brain. Pain is a sign that something is wrong and
you need to act. For example, if you
touch a hot plate, your brain immediately receives the signals and forces you
to let go of the plate. This form of
pain is a protection that helps keep you safe.
Long-lasting pain, such as that experienced with
conditions such as fibromyalgia or arthritis is a different type of pain. While the pain is alerting the body that
something is wrong, it is not as easy to relieve the pain. This type of pain can be debilitating to the
patient and must be managed to enhance the patient’s sense of well-being and
quality of life.
What
controls pain?
The brain and spinal cord includes a system of nerves
in which pain signals travel through.
The body often tries to intercept these signals to stop them. This is done by creating chemicals that
interfere or block the signals. These
chemicals are termed endorphins, and are morphine-like substances, killing the
pain and decreasing the pain sensation.
What causes pain in arthritis?
There are many factors that cause pain with arthritis
which include:
Inflammation:
Is the process that is responsible for causing swelling and redness in the
joints of the patient.
Injury to joint tissues: This is a result of pressure, injury, stress or the
disease process on the joints of the patient.
Body fatigue: Is a result of the disease process, which can
make the pain intensified and more difficult to handle.
Mental depression or stress: Arthritis patients often have limited movement and
are no longer able to enjoy various activities making depression a serious
factor in the disease. The patient can
become wrapped up in a vicious circle of pain, stress, depression and a limited
or loss of abilities making the management of pain more difficult.
What increases the pain associated with arthritis?
·
Depression
·
Anxiety
·
Fatigue
·
Focusing on pain
·
Overdoing physical
activity
·
Stress
·
Increased disease
activity
What reduces the pain associated with arthritis?
·
Cold and heat
treatments
·
Humor
·
Topical pain relievers
·
Distraction
·
Massage
·
Medications
·
Relaxation
·
Appropriate exercise
·
Positive attitude and
pleasant thoughts
How
to control arthritis pain at home
Thermotherapy (Temperature therapy)
Stiffness and pain of
arthritis can be reduced by using heat and cold treatments. Placing cold pack on the affected area will
help to numb the area and to reduce the swelling and inflammation. Cold packs
are particularly useful for joint pain due to a flare up. With heat, muscles relax and stimulate the
blood circulation. Heating lamps and
heating pads are forms of dry heat; where as, baths and heated wash cloths are
forms of moist heat. Both of which are
useful.
Sleep
therapy
When our bodies sleep, they are restoring
energy. With arthritis patients this
helps to manage the pain. Sleep therapy
also helps to reduce the pressure on the joints and helps to decrease swelling
and pain. The average person needs
seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
If you feel sleepy at various times throughout the day, take a brief
nap. If you have trouble sleeping
through the night, then avoid the nap and relax quietly during the day.
Massage
therapy
Massaging your muscles brings relief to the painful
area. Massage therapy can be done by
yourself or a profession. If you are
massaging yourself then:
·
Stop if you begin to
experience pain
·
Don’t massage joints
that are extremely painful or swollen
·
Use oil or lotion to
help the massaging technique
Relaxation therapy
Relaxation therapy does help to reverse the pain
associated with arthritis and allows the patient to have a sense of well-being
and control their life. It is vital
that the patient learn ways to control and calm the mind and body. There are various methods that are used to
help patients relax such as:
Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a deep
relaxation technique which is intended to help the patient release themselves
from their anxieties and thoughts. The
technique is pleasant and soothing and effective in relieving pain.
.
Guided imagery:
This
technique utilizes pleasant images which the mind focuses on to help guide away
from the pain. Prayer is very
relaxing and comforting for some people.
Herbal
therapy:
The herbal supplements works by removing the primary
cause of the pain, which with arthritis inflammation and stiffness, and helps
to ease the arthritis symptoms.
