Do you suffer from arthritis symptoms? Take a look at our guide on how to relieve arthritis pain for some awesome and effective relief methods!

Approximately 54 million adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed with arthritis by their doctors.

Are you part of this group?



Whether your diagnosis is recent or something you've dealt with for a long time, you know how painful this condition can be. The good news, though, is that you don't have to just accept your pain.

If you're suffering and are unsure of how to relieve arthritis pain, keep reading. Listed below are five of the best strategies you might want to try.

Factors That Make Arthritis Pain Worse
There are certain lifestyle factors that can worsen arthritis pain. Once you're aware of these factors, you can take steps to avoid them.

The following are some of the most common contributors to worsened arthritis:

Weight Gain
The more weight you're carrying on your body, the more pressure you're placing on your joints. This, in turn, can make inflammation worse and place more stress on your body.

Weight gain can make the symptoms of any type of arthritis worse. However, it seems to have an especially significant impact on symptoms related to arthritis of the knees, hips, and ankles. This likely has to do with the fact that these joints have to support a lot of a person's weight when they stand or walk. 

Diet
An unhealthy diet can also contribute to worsened arthritis symptoms. It does this in a couple of ways.
First, an unhealthy diet that is high sugar, calories, or processed food can trigger inflammation in the body. This, in turn, can make joint pain and other arthritis symptoms more noticeable.

Additionally, diets that are high in sugar, processed food, and calories also tend to cause people to gain weight. As we already know, weight gain is not good for those with arthritis.

Smoking
Smoking can make arthritis worse, too. It can slow down the healing process and may make inflammation worse.

Smoking can also hold a person back from being physically active, and physical activity is known to help improve arthritis symptoms (more on that in a minute).

Emotional Stress
Emotional stress, as well as mental health disorders like depression and anxiety, can make one's perception of pain worse, too.

If a person is dealing with severe stress, their joints may become more inflamed. Stress, depression, and anxiety can also hold one back from exercising, which can make arthritis pain worse.

People may also be more prone to overeating when they're dealing with these conditions. This, in turn, may contribute to weight gain and worsened symptoms.

How to Relieve Arthritis Pain
Avoiding some of the factors that can worsen arthritis pain is a great first step. However, there are also lots of other things you can do to relieve your pain, including the following:

1. Exercise
Regular exercise might seem like an unsafe thing for a person with arthritis to do. If you're struggling with arthritis pain, you might also be willing to do just about anything to avoid exercising.
The truth, though, is that getting up and moving can help to reduce inflammation and relieve sore, achy joints. The key is to choose the right form of movement.

Walking, low-impact strength training and low-intensity workouts like yoga are great for people who suffer from arthritis. They'll help to strengthen the muscles and bones to better support the joints and improve blood flow to bring down inflammation.

2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient form of Chinese medicine.

It involves inserting small, thin needles into specific points throughout the body. The goal is to eliminate energy blockages that may be causing pain and inflammation.

There's not a lot of research on acupuncture and its benefits. However, some studies have shown that it has promise for pain relief.

On an anecdotal level, many people swear by it for relief when they're going through a flare-up. They may also use it as a form of maintenance to help keep flare-ups at bay.

3. Meditation
Meditation can be a very useful tool for individuals who are suffering from arthritis pain.

A regular meditation practice helps to promote relaxation and improve one's ability to manage stress. It can also help you to cope with your pain and relate to it in a better, healthier way.

Meditation may be especially beneficial to those whose arthritis is made worse by emotional stress, anxiety, or depression.

4. Fish Oil Supplements
Fish oil supplements are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that are known for their positive effects on memory and cognitive health. They also help to reduce inflammation in the body.

These days, many people consume far more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3s. This leads to an imbalance in the body that may trigger higher levels of inflammation.

By raising the number of omega-3s you consume with the help of fish oil supplements (and by reducing your consumption of omega-6s), you can reduce your inflammation and improve your overall joint health.

5. CBD Oil
Cannabidiol (CBD for short) oil is a great supplement that can help those struggling with arthritis pain. CBD has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce pain and inflammation throughout the body.
According to the experts at Highland Pharms, CBD works very well for people dealing with chronic inflammatory illnesses like arthritis.

You can use it on a daily basis to help maintain good health and low levels of inflammation, and you can also take it at higher doses to help with acute pain and flare-ups.

Start Relieving Your Arthritis Pain Today
Now that you know more about how to relieve arthritis pain, it's time to take action. Give one (or more) of these treatment options a try today to see what works best for you.

Remember to be patient, too. It might take a few days or weeks for you to notice a difference in your pain levels. If you're consistent, though, you'll likely start to experience some relief.

If you want to learn more about natural pain relief, check out some of the other articles in our Health and Fitness section.