When it comes to living with arthritis, pain can strike at any time. It’s sad but true. This is what’s known as a flare up. You can have arthritis in any part of the body. With rheumatoid arthritis, it’s your hands and feet that are affected the most. Over time with RA or if you have Osteoarthritis, you can experience hip pain.
Unfortunately there is no known cure for arthritis but there are a number of ways you can treat or manage it at home. We have a few proven ways below. Please note, should the pain still persist, you should contact your doctor.
Treating Arthritic Hip Pain at Home:
Hot/Cold Treatment
I am not a stranger to pain myself and one of the best ways I treat it at home with with a hot water bottle or an ice pack. The trick is to know what to use and when.
A hot treatment will help with stiff joints. This will warm them up an help with lubrication. Whereas the cold treatment is ideal for when swelling, inflammation and pain have come knocking. It can do no harm to mix the two together. Below we also recommend getting up and walking to help loosen the joint and keep it flexible. A great tip would be to warm up your hips with a hot bath or hot water bottle before you go outside (where it may be cold) for your walk.
Strut Your Stuff
All low-impact exercise is recommended for anyone who lives with arthritis. By low impact, I mean any exercise that doesn’t put any excess strain on your joints. This could be walking, swimming, cycling and even yoga and tai chi.
Start off slow with a walk around the garden or around the block. It will help increase blood flow to your cartilage. Doing this means that your cartilage receives all the nutrients it needs and can then cushion and protects your bones. Walking can also help to lubricate your joints and over time lower the amount of pain and stiffness.
Stretching it Out
Remember how good a great stretch feels?
Well when it comes to arthritic hip pain, stretching can really help. There are many different types to choose from and most of them involve gentle movements to help stretch your hip out. Bring a cushion or a pillow as most of these stretches involve kneeling or crouching.
Rest & Relax
When pain strikes, first you must rest!
This is no time to be a hero, listen to your body. Try your best to avoid doing anything that will require you to bend or put pressure on yours hips. Avoid sitting for long periods of time and sleep on the side that doesn’t hurt.
Don’t forget heat therapy, get a cuppa going and rest with a hot water bottle to soothe your sore joints.
For more information and advice on living with arthritis, please feel free to click here.
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