How Can Men Over 50 Manage Arthritis Pain?

Men over 50 manage arthritis pain by living an active and healthy lifestyle. This includes eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep. Learn more about 6 ways for men to stay fit and healthy in the 50s.

Exercise can help improve muscle strength and flexibility, strengthen bones, and increase endurance and stamina. It can also reduce pain and swelling and control weight.

Exercise Increases Flexibility

If you have arthritis, exercise is critical for maintaining your health and keeping pain at bay. It helps you maintain mobility, lose weight and reduce stress.

The best exercise for seniors with arthritis is a low-impact aerobic activity, such as walking, jogging, swimming, or bicycling. These exercises strengthen the heart and lungs, which improves mood, energy, stamina, and weight control. The benefits of regular exercise far outweigh any inconvenience.

You can also try range-of-motion exercises, such as stretching and flexing joints. These movements stretch the joint’s full length, and you can do them daily. Stretching can lead to less stiffness and pain and increased mobility. Stretching also helps to improve circulation and reduce inflammation, which can further reduce pain and discomfort. 

You can also use heat before and after your workouts to relax muscles, and apply ice to help relieve inflammation. However, avoid using too much heat, which can exacerbate arthritis pain or damage the joints. The safest and most effective way to apply heat to arthritis pain is by using a warm compress or a heating pad on low to medium heat for 15-20 minutes at a time.

Massage Reduces Stress From Pain

Massage is a gentle form of therapy that can effectively treat arthritis symptoms. It can be a part of a comprehensive treatment plan, including medication and exercise.

Besides pain relief, massage can also be a great stress-reducing tool. People with arthritis are often prone to anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

Therapeutic massage can relieve these conditions and reduce stress by targeting specific body areas. For instance, a therapist can target joints affected by arthritis, such as the knees or ankles.

Another benefit of massage is that it improves blood circulation, which increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients throughout your body. It also removes toxins and other metabolic waste from the blood and lymph fluid, improving your overall health and boosting your immune system.

Hot/Cold Therapy Reduces Inflammation

Hot and cold treatments effectively reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling. But they can also cause skin damage if misused.

Heat therapy dilates the blood vessels and stimulates circulation, while cold constricts blood vessels to reduce swelling and pain. A few simple options include: 

• soaking in a warm bath or shower, 
• exercising in a heated pool, 
• using a heating pad, or 
• applying moist heat (heated wash cloths) to the area.

When used correctly, heat and cold therapies can improve arthritis symptoms by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. However, one should be careful with heat and cold therapy and talk with a doctor about the best treatment for their condition.

Knee Pain Relief (menover40.tips)

Medication Can Reduce Arthritis Pain

Many medications are available for arthritis pain, including NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). Your doctor can prescribe one or more to help control your symptoms.

Corticosteroids are often used in addition to NSAIDs and DMARDs. They can be given orally, intravenously, or injected into your joints.

Taking medications to manage your symptoms is vital because they can relieve pain and improve your quality of life. You can also use them to slow down or halt joint damage and keep you moving.

Another way to manage your arthritis is to combine physical and occupational therapy. These exercises can increase muscle strength, reduce pain and stiffness and improve balance.

If you have severe osteoarthritis, your doctor may recommend joint replacement surgery. This surgery can restore function and movement to damaged joints, especially your hips, and knees.

References for Arthritis Pain Management

“Mayo Clinic” – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arthritis/in-depth/arthritis/art-20046440
“National Institute on Aging” – https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/managing-arthritis-pain
“How Older Adults Can Get Started With Exercise” – https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-older-adults-can-get-started-exercise
“Arthritis Foundation: Managing Pain – https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/detail?content=healthyliving