Arthritis Therapy
When it comes to treating arthritis pain, anti-inflammatory medication (sometimes with opioid pain relievers) is the traditional first course of action, but it’s not your only option.
If you worry about drug side effects, combining meds with your current regimen, or simply prefer a more topical or holistic route, consider these therapies that can relieve the pain and stiffness in your joints.
In many cases, a combination of pharmaceutical treatment and alternative therapy will bring the best results, and considering the range of therapies available, it’s well worth keeping an open mind and exploring new approaches with the help of your doctor.
1. Hypnosis
Hypnosis is no party trick – it has real, far-reaching effects for a variety of conditions, including arthritis. In fact, studies show that 75% of arthritis sufferers experience significant pain relief with hypnosis therapy, and the biggest benefits come to those who stick with it for an extended period of time.
The keys to hypnosis are relaxation and redirection: relaxing the mind will reduce anxiety and tension, your nervous system becomes less reactive to the pain, and the trance-like state will direct your attention away from your discomfort. You’ll probably begin to feel relief after just a few sessions with a trained hypnotist, but the techniques you take away to use at home are just as important for long-lasting results.
An arthritis diagnosis tends to bring a list of limitations along with it, and that can mean some disappointing changes to your daily routine.
