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Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Photograph of a shower bench that may be helpful to people with knee osteoarthritis Shower bench for knee osteoarthritis
Photograph of a person with hand osteoarthritis using a large grip knife to cut an apple Large grip knife for hand osteoarthritis
Photograph of a person with finger osteoarthritis using a button tool to fasten a button Button tool for finger osteoarthritis
Photograph of a person with back osteoarthritis using a tool to put a sock on Sock tool for back osteoarthritis
  • 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. Try taking a 10-minute break every hour.
  • Exercise. With your doctor's approval, get regular exercise when you feel up to it. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Avoid exercising tender, injured or swollen joints. If you feel new joint pain, stop. New pain that lasts more than two 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. Aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week, at most. 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. Soothe your painful joint with heat using a heating pad, hot water bottle or warm bath. Heat should be warm, not hot. Apply heat for 20 minutes several times a day. Cool the pain in your joint with cold treatments, such as with ice packs. You can use cold treatments several times a day, but don't use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness.
  • 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. Read the label so that you know what you're using. Pain creams work best on joints that are close 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 July 22, 2009.
  2. Mercier LR. Osteoarthritis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/152079048-3/0/1701/412.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04134-8..50018-5--subchapter11_8824. Accessed July 22, 2009.
  3. Osteoarthritis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00227. Accessed July 22, 2009.
  4. Lane NE, et al. Osteoarthritis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/152079048-3/0/1492/1009.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50288-3_12790. Accessed July 22, 2009.
  5. Kalunian KC. Risk factors for and possible causes of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  6. Kalunian KC. Diagnosis and classification of osteoarthritis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  7. Ehrlich GE. Osteoarthritis. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/152079048-4/869009174/1621/497.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50250-8_3948. Accessed July 22, 2009.
  8. Solomon DH. NSAIDs: Overview of adverse effects. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 10, 2009.
  9. Arthritis Foundation life improvement series programs. Arthritis Foundation. http://www.arthritis.org/programs.php. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  10. Hunder GG. Mayo Clinic Straight Talk on Arthritis. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2006:230.
  11. Nutrition and dietary supplements. In: Firestein GS. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/153389597-3/872979471/1807/236.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10034-8--s0250_930. Accessed Aug. 10, 2009.
  12. Ginger. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  13. Chondroitin sulfate. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 31, 2009.
  14. Avocado. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 31, 2009.

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Oct. 13, 2009

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