How to manage arthritis in seniors?

Arthritis is a disorder of joints characterized by stiffness and joint pain. It can also cause redness and limited movements of the affected joints. You may have heard your senior loved ones complaining about joint and neck pain. This may be due to arthritis.

 Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis:

This is the most common form of arthritis, especially for senior people. Cartilage is a tissue that acts as padding to bones in a joint. Osteoarthritis or OA starts when the cartilage starts wearing away. Symptoms usually range from mild pain and stiffness to severe joint pains that can affect your senior loved one during their sleep.

Rheumatoid Arthritis:

The body’s immune system attacks its tissues, including joints, in the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA. It causes inflammation in the joints causing pain, swelling, and stiffness that may last long.  RA can affect different joints at the same time.  People suffering from RA feel exhausted all the time and can suffer from fever.  RA is more common in women and can attack the human body at any age.

Reactive Arthritis:

It is a form of arthritis that occurs as a result of a reaction to an infection in other body parts. Reactive Arthritis also causes redness and inflammation of the eyes (Conjunctivitis) and inflammation of the urinary tract besides joint inflammation.

Gout:

A gout is a form of arthritis that causes redness, pain, and stiffness in the joints. Pain and inflammation in gout occur when too much uric acid crystallizes and deposits in the joints. Foods like beans, peas, shellfish, and liver aggravate the condition further. Gout mostly attacks the big toe but it can affect other joints including the elbow, ankle, knee, wrist, etc. Swelling may cause the skin around the joint to become tight and become tender and turn red.

Ankylosing Spondylitis (arthritis of the spine) and Psoriatic arthritis ( that affects people with the skin condition psoriasis.) are other types of arthritis that our senior loved ones can suffer from.

So, what routine can our beloved seniors suffering from arthritis follow to relieve their body pain and lead a comfortable and relaxed life? Let us have a close look at some of the tips they can follow to relieve arthritis pain:-

• Regular movement of the body for 30 minutes can help in relieving arthritis pain. Walking and swimming are considered good for arthritis. Encourage your beloved seniors to go for a rejuvenating morning or evening walk or a refreshing swimming session twice a week.

• Ensure your senior loved one maintains healthy body weight, as their extra pounds can put pressure on weight-bearing joints such as hips, and knees flaring arthritis pain 

• Physiotherapy can help reduce arthritis pain. You can avail physiotherapy services for your senior loved one in the comfort of your home from Elder Care Service providers in Kolkata They use modern techniques like “ultrasound and electric stimulation” that help in reducing arthritis pain and providing much-needed comfort to your loved Ones.

• Meditation and other relaxation techniques are also effective in reducing arthritis pain by lowering the stress level and enabling your beloved senior to cope better with arthritis pain and inflammation.

• Gentle body stretching can improve the senior’s range of motion.  Ensure your senior loved one practices this stretching exercise daily for at least 10-15 minutes

• Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. A long warm shower in the morning helps to ease the stiffness of the joints. Wrapping a pack of ice or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and applying it to the painful joints helps in quick relief. Ice should never be applied directly to the skin. 

• Diet plays an important role in relieving arthritis pain.  Your beloved senior should consume a diet rich in fresh fruits, and vegetables as a plant-based diet provides antioxidants, better known for reducing inflammation. Ensure your senior loved one stays hydrated as much as possible as it will help the body joints stay lubricated helping smooth movements.

• Fishes rich in Omega 3 such as Salmon, Mackerel, etc are good for arthritis. Your beloved senior suffering from arthritis should avoid eating vegetables belonging to nightshade families such as tomatoes, white potatoes, peppers, etc. Sugary and gluten-rich foods are also a strict no-no for arthritis. 

These are the tips that senior people follow to relieve arthritis pain and feel comfortable and relaxed.