Arthritis pain: Do’s and don’ts

By Omar Henriquez, M.D.

Will physical activity reduce or increase your arthritis pain? Get tips on exercise and other common concerns when coping with arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain.

Arthritis is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. You can find plenty of advice about easing the pain of arthritis and other conditions with exercise, medication and stress reduction. How do you know what will work for you?

Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you figure it out.

Basics
Whatever your condition, it will be easier to stay ahead of your pain if you:
• Learn all you can about your condition, including what type of arthritis you have and whether any of your joints are already damaged
• Enlist your doctor, friends and family in managing your pain
• Tell your doctor if your pain changes

Everyday routines
Pay attention to your joints, whether sitting, standing or engaging in activity.
• Keep your joints moving. Do daily, gentle stretches that move your joints through their full range of motion.
• Use good posture. A physical therapist can show you how to sit, stand and move correctly.
• Know your limits. Balance activity and rest, and don’t overdo.

In addition, lifestyle changes are important for easing pain.

• Manage weight. Being overweight can increase complications of arthritis and contribute to arthritis pain. Making incremental, permanent lifestyle changes resulting in gradual weight loss is often the most effective method of weight management.
• Quit smoking. Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which can increase arthritis pain.

Exercise
When you have arthritis, movement can decrease your pain and stiffness, improve your range of motion, strengthen your muscles, and increase your endurance.

What to do
Choose the right kinds of activities — those that build the muscles around your joints but don’t damage the joints themselves. A physical or occupational therapist can help you develop an exercise program that’s right for you.

Focus on stretching, range-of-motion exercises and gradual progressive strength training. Include low-impact aerobic exercise, such as walking, cycling or water exercises, to improve your mood and help control your weight.

What to avoid
Avoid activities that involve high impact and repetitive motion, such as:
• Running
• Jumping
• Tennis
• High-impact aerobics
• Repeating the same movement, such as a tennis
serve, again and again

Medications
Many types of medications are available for arthritis pain relief. Most are relatively safe, but no medication is completely free of side effects. Talk with your doctor to formulate a medication plan for your specific pain symptoms.

What to do
For arthritis in the spine, you can start with NSAIDS such as Aleve, Ibuprofen, Advil, Naproxen if not contraindicated. If the pain persists, we can move forward to interventional procedures. Facet medial branch blocks followed by radiofrequency ablation procedure are one way to provide 6 months to 2 years of relief.

Cream containing capsaicin may be applied to skin over a painful joint to relieve pain. Use alone or with oral medication.

Consult your doctor if over-the-counter medications don’t relieve your pain.

At Family Spine and Pain Care Institute, we want our patients to feel right at home.
From our warm and friendly staff to our most advanced up-to-date medical treatments, we strive to give our patients the highest quality of comprehensive care available. We understand that pain is debilitating, and that it can lead to a vicious cycle of depression, inactivity, fear, and anxiety, which can severely affect the lives of our patients and their loved ones.

No one deserves to live a life of pain. Our goal is to help our patients break the cycle of pain, so you can take back control of your life, and start doing what you love most. Trust, compassion, communication, and care formulate the core foundations of our beliefs. Our team wants each one of our patients to feel like they are part of our family.

Omar Henriquez, M.D. interventional pain management
Dr. Henriquez is double board certified in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Management by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

He is well versed in the use of fluoroscopy and ultrasound guidance to perform many spine and joint procedures such as epidurals, facet blocks, spinal cord stimulators, kyphoplasty for vertebral fractures, nerve blocks, migraine headaches, joint injections, and much more. He is very passionate about the new innovative field of regenerative medicine and has dedicated much of his time to learning and researching the best options out there for his patients.

“The one thing missing in the medical field today is being able to take the time to listen and understand our patients. It is through this process where we can formulate a comprehensive plan to produce the best possible outcomes.”
– Dr. Omar H. Henriquez

Dr. Henriquez is a true Florida native having lived most of his life in Florida. When he is at home he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, exploring their city, and playing outdoors. They are very excited to have chosen Sarasota County as their home and continue their journey as a family and helping out in the community through charities and fundraisers.

Family Spine and Pain Care Institute
941-237-0050
www.FSAPCARE.com