Hand And Foot Pain? Natural Treatments For Your Rheumatoid Arthritis

Light hand pain is normal with age, but ongoing joint pain that radiates through your hands, wrist, and arm may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis. To move and complete basic tasks, the small bones and joints in your hands and feet are constantly working. This constant motion affects the lining of your joints, causing your hands and feet to swell. While painful, rheumatoid arthritis can also wear down your bones and inhibit your mobility. If you are one of the 1.3 million Americans suffering with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment is key to living a comfortable, fulfilling life.

In most cases, your doctor will prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, to treat the arthritis in your hands and feet.  Ibuprofen reduces the inflammation and swelling around your joints to relieve your pain. Unfortunately, these oral and injectable medications may cause other side effects. Use this guide for rheumatology treatment:

Exercise

You may be exercising stress and anxiety due to your lack of mobility and overall discomfort. Fortunately, exercise can help boost your mood by releasing your body's natural endorphins. In addition, targeting the arthritic joints can reduce inflammation and strengthen your hands and feet.

Here are a few beneficial exercises to consider if you are dealing with pain in your hands and feet:

  • Simple Hand Stretch – Relax your fingers while facing your palm in towards your face. Stretch your thumb across your palm. Touch your thumb tip to the bottom of your small finger. Hold the position for a few seconds before releasing. Repeat this stretch multiple times each day on both hands.
  • C-Curl for Hand – Hold your hand out in front of you, palm facing out. Stretch all of your fingers up before curling the top portions to create the letter C.  Hold the C-shape in place for 5 seconds before releasing. Repeat the C-curl multiple times each day on each hand.
  • Foot Tap – For joint pain in your foot, complete this foot tap exercise multiple times each day. While sitting up straight in a chair, plant your foot on the floor in front of you. Lift the heel off the floor before tapping the top portion of your foot on the floor multiple times. When complete, perform the same exercise on your other foot.
  • Toe Grab – Place a soft cloth or piece of paper on the floor. Sitting in a chair, squeeze your toes to grab the cloth or paper before lifting it off the ground. Repeat the process a few times before switching to your other foot.

Hydrotherapy

Centered on the use of hot or cold water to ease physical and mental stress, hydrotherapy is also a great option for reducing your arthritic pain.

When experiencing pain, consider wrapping an ice pack around your hands or feet for a few minutes. Soaking in a hot tub is also effective for improving swelling and inflammation of your joints. Or, rest a warm compress on your arthritic joints for 15 minutes each day to reduce discomfort. 

From a heat pad to ice bath, many forms of hydrotherapy are available to ease your rheumatoid arthritis pain.

Supplements

While surprising to hear, adding a few supplements to your daily diet can also decrease the pain and noticeable signs of rheumatoid arthritis. Here are a few supplements to consider:

  • Fish Oil – The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements reduce inflammation, which decreases swelling and pain in your joints. Not only is fish oil great for anti-inflammatory purposes, but it also improves your cardiovascular health. To reduce arthritic pain, be sure your fish oil capsules contain at least 30 percent EPA/DHA, which are the active ingredients in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Glucosamine – Adding a Glucosamine supplement to your daily diet also improves your joints. The supplements strengthen joints and surrounding tissue, which reduces the risk of further damage.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis in your hands and feet may seem overwhelming. Using these natural treatments, you can reduce pain and prevent further joint damage. 


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