Article Series Pain Management
Living with Arthritis
Around 16% of Canadians aged 15+ are living with arthritis, a condition which causes swelling and tenderness of the joints.
A common myth about arthritis is that it’s an old person’s disease. In reality, three in five Canadians with arthritis are under the age of 65, and the condition affects all ages, including children and teens.
Arthritis is an umbrella term that includes over 100 conditions affecting the joints and connective tissues, however the most common are:
Osteoarthritis
The most common form, which usually affects the joints of the hands, feet, hips, knees, and spine.
Symptoms:
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Reduced joint mobility
Rheumatoid Arthritis
An autoimmune disease which usually affects the hands, wrists, and feet.
Symptoms:
- Redness
- Pain
- Swelling
- A warm feeling in the joint
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
An autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, and brain. It is most common in women of childbearing age (15-45).
Gout
Gout is caused by too much uric acid in the body that is not adequately removed by the kidneys.
Symptoms:
- Painful flare-ups in the big toe, ankle, knee, hand, wrist, or elbow which last several days or weeks before subsiding.
Another common myth about arthritis is that there’s nothing you can do about it, however that’s simply not true. Arthritis will often be treated with medicines alongside lifestyle changes to improve symptoms.
This means there’s a lot in your power to improve your condition. Let’s explore some products that can help you manage your arthritis.
1. Pain Relief Products
It’s easy to take simple tasks for granted until you experience daily arthritis pain. We offer a wide variety of pain relief products that are designed to help relieve tension, increase mobility, and help you get back to regular life.
2. Massage Therapy
Massage can help relieve pain and ease the muscle stiffness that is often comes with arthritis by improving circulation and helping to reduce inflammation. The result is enhanced blood flow to arthritic joints, improved movement, and reduced pain. Explore a selection of massage therapy products by clicking below.
3. TENS Devices
These pain treatment devices use a low voltage electric current to scramble pain signals in your body. The device is connected to electrodes, which carry an electric current from the TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine to the skin.
4. Hot & Cold Therapy
Hot and cold therapy products can help relax muscles or reduce swelling at home for relief of pain associated with arthritis. There are a variety of options and solutions available depending on your unique needs.
It’s often wrongly believed that arthritis is simply a natural part of aging that must just be accepted. And while there’s no cure for the condition, you have the power to improve your symptoms.