How to Control Arthritis in Hands

If you have arthritis in your hands, you know this common condition creates severe pain which can make everyday tasks challenging. Whereas previous generations often thought of arthritis pain as an inevitable part of aging, modern complementary health care offers many methods for controlling arthritis pain. Following some guidelines will help reduce the frequency of severe pain and help you recover agility in your hands.

Things You'll Need

• Fish oil supplements
• Turmeric
• Garlic
• Black cherry juice
• Heating pad
• Ice pack
• Coconut oil
• OTC painkillers

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Instructions

• 1

  Exercise your hands regularly. Arthritic hands tend to harden into a claw-like shape because we constantly curl thumbs and fingers into the tool use position. Place your hands, palm down, on a table or other flat surface and stretch the webbings between the fingers to make the hand as big as possible. Flatten the hand into the table as you press down. Then repeat the movement with palms upward, trying to press the back of the hand into the table, fingers still spread wide. To counteract wrist pain, extend one arm straight out in front of you, palm forward, fingers wide apart. With the opposite hand, pull the fingers gently back toward your wrist, then release. Do the same movement but pull only the thumb back. Point the hand downward, still with palm away from the body, and repeat the movement of pulling back first the fingers and then the thumb. Repeat for the opposite hand.

• 2

  Adjust your lifestyle. Some substances, such as tobacco smoke, can aggravate arthritis pain, and others help decrease it. Increase your intake of oily fish (or take fish oil supplements) and other substances containing omega-3 fatty acid such as flaxseeds. Many arthritis patients report goods results by eliminating foods high in sugar content and avoiding soy and corn food additives, plus eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. Turmeric and garlic both have anti-inflammatory properties; add them to your cooking or purchase supplements. Black cherry juice also has healing properties for swollen joints. Since studies indicate excess body weight contributes to complications from arthritis, begin a sensible diet and exercise program.

• 3

  Build a team of healers to help you. Many arthritis patients experience tremendous pain relief from acupuncture and/or massage. Find a professional in one or both of these modalities who understands arthritis treatment. If your budget will not cover professional massage, learn hand massage techniques and trade hand massages with a friend or perform self-massage. Using coconut oil increases the benefits of massage since it helps fight inflammation of the joints.

• 4

  Change temperatures. Experiment with use of heating pads, soaking in hot water, and applying ice packs for pain relief and to reduce swelling.

• 5

  Keep an over-the-counter painkiller such as aspirin or ibuprofen on hand for days of severe pain. Be conservative in taking pain medication as some people develop a resistance to painkillers over time resulting in over-medication.