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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Controlling Your Arthritis

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  • Rest. If you're experiencing pain or inflammation in your joint, rest it for 12 to 24 hours. Find activities that don't require you to use your joint repetitively.
  • Exercise. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming. If you feel new joint pain, stop. New pain that lasts for hours after you exercise probably means you've overdone it.
  • Lose weight. Being overweight or obese increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees and your hips. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain. Talk to your doctor about healthy ways to lose weight. Most people combine changes in their diet with increased exercise.
  • Use heat and cold to manage pain. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat also relieves stiffness and cold can relieve muscle spasms.
  • Apply over-the-counter pain creams. Creams and gels available at the drugstore may provide temporary relief from osteoarthritis pain. Some creams numb the pain by creating a hot or cool sensation. Other creams contain medications, such as aspirin-like compounds, that are absorbed into your skin. Pain creams work best on joints that are close to the surface of your skin, such as your knees and fingers.
  • Use assistive devices. Assistive devices can make it easier to go about your day without stressing your painful joint. A cane may take weight off your knee or hip as you walk. Gripping and grabbing tools may make it easier to work in the kitchen if you have osteoarthritis in your fingers. Your doctor or occupational therapist may have ideas about what sorts of assistive devices may be helpful to you. Catalogs and medical supply stores also may be places to look for ideas.
Alternative medicine Treatments and drugs
References
  1. Handout on health: Osteoarthritis. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Osteoarthritis/default.asp. Accessed Aug. 15, 2011.
  2. Osteoarthritis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00227. Accessed July 22, 2011.
  3. Lane NE, et al. Osteoarthritis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Aug. 15, 2011.
  4. Kalunian KC. Risk factors and possible causes of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 16, 2011.
  5. Kalunian KC. Diagnosis and classification of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 16, 2011.
  6. Lozada CJ. Management of osteoarthritis. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-6/0/1807/0.html. Accessed Aug. 16, 2011.
  7. Osteoarthritis. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http//www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Aug. 16, 2011.
  8. Lorig K, et al. Hints, tips, gadgets and resources. In: Lorig K, et. al. The Arthritis Helpbook: A Tested Self-Management Program for Coping With Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. 6th ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Da Capo Press; 2006:55.
  9. Berman BM, et al. Effectiveness of acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: A randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2004;12:901.
  10. Sawitzke AD, et al. Clinical efficacy and safety of glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, their combination, celecoxib or placebo taken to treat osteoarthritis of the knee: 2-year results from GAIT. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 2010;8:1459.
  11. Wang C, et al. Tai chi is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, controlled trial. Arthritis and Rheumatism. 2009;11:1545.
  12. Haaz S, et al. Yoga for arthritis: A scoping review. Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America. 2011;37:33.
  13. Rohren CH (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 24, 2011.
DS00019 Oct. 13, 2011

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