Arthritis is the swelling of joints and it can be incredibly painful. Your elderly family member may still be looking for some ways to get some relief from this pain, especially if she’s been trying to do so for a while. No one solution works for everyone or works every time, so your elderly family member might want to try a combination of these.
Massage
Most people think about massage as a luxurious way to relax. But therapeutic massage can do so much more. When a massage therapist manipulates muscles and joints, the blood flow in those areas improves. Massage also helps to reduce inflammation and increase mobility.
Exercise
Before exercising your senior should always clear it with her doctor. But it’s also possible that her doctor has been trying to talk your elderly family member into moving more. Stretching exercises and exercise that helps to strengthen her muscles can help her to feel less pain. Exercise also lubricates joints that may feel painful, which helps to reduce that pain.
Supplements and Herbs
Herbs and supplements are everywhere and they can do a lot of good for your senior. Everything from turmeric to glucosamine is recommended for people experiencing pain and inflammation due to arthritis. Always talk to your senior’s doctor before implementing herbs and supplements, because they do have side effects and they can cause interactions with medications that she’s already taking.
Home TENS Units
TENS units are small electrical devices that send a current into the skin and help to soothe joint and muscle pain. They transmit electric impulses through pads that sit on your senior’s skin. Home handheld units typically offer a variety of different settings, so your senior can experiment and find the ones that help her the most. There usually aren’t any side effects from using a TENS device, but your senior should talk to her doctor before she tries it.
Acupressure and Acupuncture
Acupressure and acupuncture both use specific meridian points on the body to alleviate pain and to resolve specific health issues. Acupuncture uses tiny needles while acupressure uses simple pressure from a practitioner’s fingers. If your elderly family member has tried other options and they didn’t work, this might be another idea to try.
The pain from arthritis can be debilitating and might keep your senior from doing things that she needs and wants to do. Hiring a caregiver to assist her could be a perfect solution.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering caregivers in Cherry Hills, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today. Call us at (303) 756-9322.
