Tips for a Bad Flare Day – Part 1

As arthritics, we all have those bad flare days, weeks, years, etc.  It is just a part of life.  But some days just seem to be unbearable.  What do you do on those days? 

Here are some tips that may help relieve some of the pain:

Take a hot bath:  This sounds like a no-brainer, but in today’s world most people would rather take a shower due to time constraints, busy lives, etc.  Taking a hot shower can help because of the heat.  However, when you take a bath you receive two benefits.  First, your body soaks in the heat which helps your joints feel better.  Second, due to the buoyancy, your joints are not weight bearing which relieves the stress on your joints.

Epsom salts:  If you have tried hot baths and they do not quite relieve some of the pain, then try adding some epsom salts to your bath.  Epsom salts tend to reduce inflammation and relax muscles.

Use a heating pad or electric blanket:  Try a heating pad on the worst offending joint or an electric blanket if you have multiple joints in pain.  Just make sure to not leave them unattended or sleep with them on.

Hand gloves and socks:  If your hands hurt or are cold, then try wearing gloves to keep the heat in your body.  That goes the same for your feet.  Wear thick socks or socks with shoes or slippers on.  Keeping the heat in your body assists in relieving the pain.

ThermaCare heat wraps:  Try ThermaCare heat wraps on your joints if you need a portable heat source.  They are designed to provide heat for about 8 hours once activated.

Cold treatment:  If you have tried the tips above and you still do not experience relief from pain and stiffness, then try some cold therapy by placing an ice pack  or cold pack on the painful joint.  You may even want to try alternating between cold and hot therapies.

The overall message here is for you to find the treatment that works best for you.  Everyone is different.  When you find the combination of treatment that works best for you, jot it down so you know what to do the next time.

Tomorrow, we will give even more tips for those unbearable flares in Tips for a Bad Flare Day – Part 2.