My shoulder injury happened years ago, a Slap Tear for which I had injections for the pain for years. I was hopeful that it was on the mend when the pain let up and I stopped injections. That was until I took a tumble falling on the hardwod floor and land on the shoulder.
I dealt with the pain until I could no longer sleep on that side. I scheduled an appointment hoping that an injection would help. After looking at the Xray he said I needed surgery. He ordered a CT Scan to get more detail. The Radiologist who read the CT confirm there was more damage to the shoulder and surgery was recomended. They also found an area of arthritis in the shoulder.
I had two choices for surgery, the less invasive surgery was less painful and had a quicker recovery time. The second option included removing the arthritis. Though the less invasive sounded better but the arthritis would not be removed and would contiune to cause pain. I am having a right shoulder replacement, getting my head around at first was difficult, thinking abut the pain, three weeks in a sling and three months of Physical Therapy.
My mind has changed from thinking about the difficulties of the surgery, to living pain-free after the rehab is completed.
My surgery is 8/20/25 and I will be out of pocket until I can write without pain.
I wrote this post many years ago, I think the last one written was #17. This was written during a difficult time when Fibro ruled my life. I haven’t had a bad flare in several months and I’m so thankful.
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I had to accept the loss of everyday control once diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I go to bed with plans for the next day, when the morning rolls around, I can’t get out of bed. In the past, I would beat myself up, feel shame and anger.
A shower takes an hour, it’s painful and exhausting. Instead, I use hospital approved cleansing wipes to bathe on the days when I can’t handle the thought of a shower. I’m embarrassed to tell my husband.
I shaved my head yesterday, taking care of my hair takes too much energy. I’m housebound, only doctors see me. My husband doesn’t say anything but I imagine the negative thoughts he has. Why can’t his wife be normal like others, why can’t we go out to eat, why don’t we have sex, I’m fat………the thoughts can consume.
I can ask myself questions about why not shower every day, I don’t. It’s not productive, within my control and doesn’t help my health. Stress creates inflammation creates more pain.
I’m very aware of the pain that migraines cause, they can disrupt your life. During the 90s I suffered from migraines almost daily and took medication and injections to help. My career was taking off and I was an excutive salesperson, calling on high-level executives for major corporations. I loved my job but my life changed when the migraines started. This went on for two years, two years of rushing home in between appointments to give an injection. Which effected your mental and physical state. I rested and made phone calls when I could.
You can read the whole story here. My story had a happy ending when the doctor discovered a bone in my nose was causing them. I got very lucky.
Migraine Awareness Awareness Month is observed in June. Migraines are mistakenly understood as severe headaches, but they are so much more than that. Migraines are actually a debilitating neurological disease. Even though migraines are a common headache disorder, they remain poorly understood and neglected. Many people go their entire lives without proper diagnosis and treatment. With care and treatment, migraines can become more manageable. Apart from inheriting the condition, some people can also get migraines through specific triggers. Interestingly, one can develop migraine at any stage in their life.
HISTORY OF MIGRAINE AWARENESS WEEK
Migraines are a chronic neurological disorder that affects over a billion people across the world. Migraine symptoms include long-lasting headaches, characterized by severe, throbbing, or pulsating pain on one side of the head. The headache is often accompanied by light or sound sensitivity, nausea, or vomiting. Even though the symptoms can be very uncomfortable and impact the overall quality of life, people remain ignorant of the condition. Migraine is one of the top ten leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide. Around the world, the prevalence of migraine is approximately 10% of the entire population. More than half the patients who complain of severe and regular headaches, turn out to be migraines.
While migraines don’t have a definitive cause, certain factors can trigger the condition. These triggers include stress, irregular sleep schedules, caffeine or alcohol consumption, dietary triggers such as chocolate, cheese, and dairy products, hormone fluctuations, and more. That’s a long list!
The condition significantly impacts the individual’s personal, professional and social life. Migraines come without a warning and can be crippling. This is the main reason for an urgent need to diagnose and treat migraines correctly. It also helps patients to identify their migraine triggers and avoid these triggers as best as they can. There is also the need for more effective, personalized migraine treatment. Medical practitioners should also take into account the patient’s comorbidities, frequency and severity of attacks, and more. As you can see, patients and healthcare workers need to be more vigilant of migrant attacks and their treatments.
Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are having any type of headache on a regular basis.
Pain happens, but when it sticks around for a long period of time or feels unbearable, nonaddictive pain medication may sound like a safer alternative to opioids.
Most people have experienced physical pain to some degree, whether it’s something more temporary, like stubbing your toe, or more chronic, like arthritis in your lower back.
How you treat pain depends on its cause and how badly it hurts. When pain is severe, healthcare professionals often prescribe medications called opioids.
Opioids are potent and considered some of the most effective pain medications available, but they come with an addiction warning. It’s natural to be wary of these drugs.
You have choices, however. Many nonaddictive pain medications are available — and even preferred — depending on your source of pain.
Why are opioids addictive?
Opioids are medications originally derived from natural opioid compounds, extracts from the seed of the poppy plant. This group of drugs includes pain medications such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine.
Opioids can create an environment for addiction because they boost reward-specific transmitters in your brain, like dopamine. Over time, your body comes to rely on the opioid to trigger the release of these chemicals, leading to dependence, cravings, and tolerance.
NSAIDs are medications that manage pain by controllingTrusted Source the production of prostaglandins, compounds made by your body at sites of infection or tissue damage. By inhibiting prostaglandin production, inflammation, pain, and fever are reduced.
There are currently more than 20 different NSAIDs on the market. Some of the most common names include:
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is classified as a non-aspirin pain reliever and is a fever and pain reducer, though its exact mechanisms of action are unknown.
Acetaminophen has high safety ratings, however, and is the preferred pain management medication for mild pain.
Muscle relaxants
Experiencing muscle spasms with an injury can add to already existing pain. Muscle relaxants help control spasms to take that variable out of the pain equation.
Whether or not muscle relaxants provide beneficial levels of pain management remains up for debate, however. A 2021 reviewTrusted Source found little evidence supporting pain management efficacy of these medications.
Corticosteroid medications manage pain by controlling inflammation and suppressing immune responses that might lead to inflammation. Typically prescriptions, corticosteroids are often used in conjunction with other medications, including opioids.
Also known as antiepileptics, anticonvulsants are used for chronic pain management in conditions with neuropathic pain (pain associated with nerve damage).
When you need pain relief in an exact spot, local anesthetics like lidocaine can stop nerves in the injured area from sending pain signals to the brain.
Local anesthetics are common when you have an injury that might need stitches, for example, but doesn’t require you to be under full anesthesia.
Some local anesthetics are also available in topical forms for use on minor injuries, dental pain, or muscle aches.
Acetaminophen is the most commonly used non-opioid pain medication in the United States. It’s in more than 600 OTC and prescription medications and is taken in some form by approximately 52 million people every week.
Everyone’s perception of pain is different. What works well for you may not work at all for someone else.
Pain medication strength can be evaluated in a general sense, however, by using a statistical measure known as “the number needed to treat (NNT).”
The NNT is determined by how many people are given a pain medication before it’s seen to be effective. The lower the number, the more effective the treatment is considered.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), opioids aren’t the most effective pain relievers in terms of the NNT scales. A combination of two nonaddictive pain medications — ibuprofen and acetaminophen — appears to be superior based on emerging research.
Even without this combination, the NSC data indicates that naproxen, an NSAID, has a higher NNT compared with common opioid postoperative pain prescriptions.
Even nonaddictive pain medications come with the risk of mild or serious side effects.
NSAIDs, for example may cause:
headaches
dizziness
drowsiness
upset stomach
In rare cases, they can cause peptic ulcers or kidney and liver complications.
Acetaminophen has a similar list of adverse effects, including:
skin rashes/hypersensitivity
facial swelling
itching/hives
upset stomach
fatigue
It can also cause potentially serious liver conditions that may lead to liver failure.
Just because a medication has a low addiction risk doesn’t mean it’s the right or better choice for your pain management needs. Every medication comes with potential side effects.
A healthcare team can help you decide which medications may be safest for you.
Nonaddictive pain medications and substance misuse
While “addiction” is a term often reserved for substances, like opioids, that can create chemical dependence, it’s still possible to experience substance misuse with other medications.
Living with chronic pain can be overwhelming. It can be tempting to take higher amounts or more frequent doses of pain medication to try and manage symptoms. Any use of nonaddictive pain medication that is against a doctor’s recommendations is misuse.
Nonaddictive pain medications come in OTC and prescription form. They’re alternatives to opioids, traditional medications known for their addictive potential.
Acetaminophen remains the most popular nonaddictive pain medication in the United States, but emerging research suggests it may be strongest when combined with ibuprofen.
All types of pain medications come with possible side effects. A healthcare team can help determine which medication is best for your needs.
If you or a loved one are concerned about addiction or substance misuse, you can speak to someone 24/7 by calling the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
Joint pain is very common during menopause and may be related to lower levels of estrogen. Exercising frequently, eating anti-inflammatory foods, and other actions may help reduce the pain.
If you experience hot flashes, shifts in mood, and joint pain, you’re not alone. These are some of the most common symptoms for people going through menopause.
It’s estimated that more than 50%Trusted Source of women experience arthralgia (joint pain) or arthritis during menopause and, for 21%, either condition is one of the more significant menopausal signs.
Menopausal-related joint pain can be caused by changes in hormonal levels, but other factors may also play a role. There are a variety of home remedies that may help reduce joint pain, and OB-GYN and primary care doctors can also help you decide if you’re a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other medications.
Language matters
You’ll notice we use the binary term “women” in this article. While we realize this term may not match your gender experience, this is the term used by the researchers whose data was cited. We try to be as specific as possible when reporting on research participants and clinical findings.
Unfortunately, the studies and surveys referenced in this article didn’t report data on, or may not have included, participants who were transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, genderqueer, agender, or genderless.
Estrogen helps to protect joints and reduce inflammation. It also affects the function of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Having the right balance of estrogen is necessary for ideal joint performance.
The development or progression of arthritis may be another reason for chronic joint pain during menopause. The risk of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis increases during menopause. This increased risk is also likely related to hormone changes.
According to the 2010 research, one of the best ways to treatTrusted Source your menopause-related joint pain may be moving more. Movement and stretching help reduce pain and stiffness. Regular exercise can also help maintain a moderate weight or prevent weight gain that may put added stress on the bones and joints.
Research indicates that women are particularly likely to develop musculoskeletal pain during perimenopause, but the odds of moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain increase with age through postmenopause.
Your joint pain may be chronic, especially if you develop arthritis. HRT may help to improveTrusted Sourcethe outcomes for those with a variety of menopause symptoms, including joint pain. More research into the risks and benefits of this is still ongoing.
Finding support if you have joint pain at menopause
If you’re experiencing joint pain during menopause, you may benefit from talking with any of the following:
The joint pain you experience may not go away even after menopause. You may experience it for the rest of your life, but there are ways to manage the discomfort.
Where is joint pain most common for those with rheumatoid arthritis?
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may feel pain in the wrist, fingers, and toes, but you can also experience pain in other areas, including the knees, elbows, ankles, and neck.
What supplements help menopausal joint pain?
Some supplements that people report to improve joint pain include fish oil, collagen hydrolysateTrusted Source, and curcumin (often found in turmeric). A doctor may recommend different supplements, like vitamin D, based on your specific health conditions.
You’re not alone if you experience stiffness, swelling, or shooting joint pain during menopause. Lower estrogen levels may be partially responsible for the discomfort, but a combination of other factors, including arthritis, may also contribute.
If you experience joint pain during menopause, it can help to get regular exercise and eat anti-inflammatory foods. If you experience chronic pain, you may want to talk with a doctor or other healthcare professional about medication options, including HRT.
Cortisone shots can help relieve joint inflammation. You may experience minor side effects.
Cortisone shots are injections that help relieve pain and inflammation in your joints, muscles, or connective tissue. They’re commonly used to manage symptoms of painful inflammatory conditions, such as:
Cortisone shots are fast-acting and can provide significant short-term pain relief for weeks to months. Although cortisone shots are generally safe, they do come with some potential risks.
Keep reading for an overview of everything you should know about cortisone shots.
A cortisone shot helps relieve pain by reducing inflammation in a certain part of your body. The cortisone is delivered into the affected area with a thin needle.
Cortisone is a type of molecule known as a corticosteroid, a precursor to the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by your adrenal gland and plays many roles in your body, including suppressing the activity of your immune system.
Inflammation is your immune system’s way of protecting your body from injuries, foreign substances, or anything else potentially damaging. Inflammation releases various substances, including the hormones bradykinin and histamineTrusted Source. These hormones irritate nerves and send pain signals to your brain.
A cortisone shot reduces levels of molecules that stimulate inflammation. This can improve joint function and reduce stimulation of your nerves which leads to pain.
These shots often take effect within a few days, though some can be effective within a few hours, and can provide pain relief for up to several months depending on:
A 2015 study in American Family Physician found that over a period of 8 to 16 weeks, corticosteroid injections are more effective for managing frozen shoulder than oral corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and physical therapy. But the study found that the outcome between groups isn’t significant after a year.
Osteoarthritis
Cortisone shots are often used to treat knee or hip osteoarthritis.
For the knee, pain relief typically lasts for 1 to 2 weeks but may last up to 4 weeks.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of your median nerve that often causes tingling or pain in your hand.
A 2017 reviewTrusted Source of studies suggests that corticosteroids can lead to short-term relief in about 45 out of 100 people.
Trigger finger
Trigger finger is the locking of a finger caused by inflammation of the tendons.
The 2015 study mentioned earlier found 54 to 86 percent cure rates after corticosteroid injections.
Bursitis
Bursitis is inflammation of small fluid-filled sacs called bursae found around your joints.
Cortisone injections may help reduce this inflammation temporarily. Corticosteroid injections for the bursa around the head of your femur provide greater pain relief at 6 weeks and 3 months than physical therapy and pain relievers, but not after one year.
Cortisone can travel into your bloodstream and cause full-body side effects.
According to a 2019 review of studiesTrusted Source, the amount of cortisone that gets absorbed into your blood seems to vary significantly between people. But both joint and epidural injections can have effects that last for weeks.
There’s also some evidence from a 2020 study that a single shot can increase your risk of developing infectious diseases, such as the flu.
In rare cases, an improperly performed injection can lead to nerve damage.
Cortisone shots typically cost roughly $100 to 300 but can be more than $1,000. Your insurance may cover some or all of the cost.
The exact cost that you pay out of pocket for a cortisone shot varies widely between clinics and depends on:
the clinic you visit
where you live
what type of shot you get
Medicare reports that patients pay an average of $84 for injections of therapeutic substances, such as cortisone, when performed at a non-hospital facility. The average price at a hospital is $146.
Here’s what you can expect when you get a cortisone injection:
Depending on what part of your body is being treated, you may be asked to change into a hospital gown.
A doctor or specialist will clean the area around the injection site with alcohol wipes and wait for the alcohol to dry.
The doctor or specialist will likely apply a spray or anesthetic to numb the pain.
They will make an injection with a thin needle. You may feel some pressure, but most people don’t experience a significant amount of discomfort or pain.
A doctor may be able to recommend alternative treatments for your condition. For some issues like chronic knee pain, surgery may be the best option.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection is an experimental treatment that may help you manage joint pain. More research is needed to understand their potential benefit.
Hyaluronic injections are also sometimes used to treat knee pain when cortisone shots aren’t effective.
Cortisone shots are used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions affecting your joints or other parts of your musculoskeletal system. They’re generally safe, but they can cause side effects that either affect the treated area or your whole body.
Discuss the pros and cons with a doctor beforehand. Depending on your condition, there may be alternative treatment options that have fewer side effects or are cheaper.
HARTFORD, Conn. — An invasive tick species in Connecticut has been found to carry the bacteria that can cause ehrlichiosis in humans, a discovery that has alarmed state biologists as the tick continues to increase its spread throughout the state.
Longhorned ticks, an emerging invasive species in the state, have now been found to carry the bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis. The bacteria, while rare in Connecticut, has been found in the state for a while, according to Dr. Goudarz Molaei, a state entomologist with the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station.
Between 2001 and 2019, the number of cases of the bacteria increased from 142 to 2,093, a roughly 15-fold rise. Only two erlichiosis cases were recorded in Connecticut between 2008 and 2018, however, 28 cases were reported in the state between 2019 and 2023, according to CAES data.
“This is concerning because before we only saw this bacteria present in the lone star tick, this is the first case detected in the longhorned tick,” Molaei said. “What is concerning about this is that the longhorned tick doesn’t need a mate to reproduce. So it has the potential to spread quickly and we already are seeing that as its population increases.”
Longhorned ticks primarily reproduce through a process called parthenogenesis, where females can lay viable eggs without mating to reproduce. This means a single female tick can create an entire population without a male partner, increasing the risks of rapid spread, Molaei said.
“This is very unusual and something we don’t see too often,” Molaei said. “So far this is the only tick in the United States that has this ability to reproduce without a mate. In other animals like arthropods and certain vertebrae, parthenogenesis has been reported, but it’s still very rare.”
Molaei said that a rise in ehrlichiosis cases is expected in the future. The bacterial infection can be a serious illness, though most cases are not fatal with prompt treatment. Untreated, it can lead to severe complications like organ damage, brain problems and even death. There is no vaccine available, but antibiotics are the traditional course of treatment, he said.
The invasive ticks are not native to the United States and are considered an exotic species. They originally were found in tropical environments in Asia before being detected in the U.S. in 2017. Since its initial discovery, the longhorned tick has expanded into at least 21 states, primarily in the East and Northeast, as well as the District of Columbia, according to CAES. The species was first detected in Connecticut in 2018.
In both its native and invasive range, the longhorned tick is known to transmit a wide variety of pathogens, Molaei said. Researchers have found evidence of infection in field-collected specimens in the U.S. with pathogens that cause Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Bourbon virus disease and theileriosis. However, it is still unknown if the tick can spread many of these disease agents.
“What is also unusual about this species is that we have shown this tick is capable of attaching and detaching with partial blood feeding,” Molaei said. “Most ticks will stay on a host until they are fully engorged, so this increases the risks of disease transmission. Unfortunately these ticks co-exist with lone star ticks, and to make the matter worse, both of these ticks feed on white tail deer. Deer can act as a reservoir for the bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis. Longhorned ticks can pick up the bacteria after feeding on an infected deer.”
The tick species is now found scattered throughout Fairfield and New Haven counties, according Molaei. However, their range is expected to increase its range further northward. Last year, the ticks were identified in Fairfield, New London, Middlesex and New Haven counties, according to data from CAES.
“As the climate changes, we expect to see this species further north into New England and Canada,” Molaei said. “We are fortunate that. at least for the time being, the population is rather patchy in Fairfield and New Haven counties. It is not widespread yet, but eventually it will become more widespread, and that is where the concern increases.”
Meghan Bradshaw was just 25 when severe joint pain appeared seemingly overnight.
Once active and independent, she found herself unable to walk, dress, or function on her own. She returned to her mother’s care while doctors struggled to explain her condition.
After two years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, Bradshaw finally received clarity. She tested positive for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
That diagnosis came after she turned to OrthoCarolina, where her orthopedic team helped connect her with a specialist who identified the root cause of her symptoms. Though the diagnosis came with its own challenges, it offered the one thing she had been missing: hope.
Over the next six years, Bradshaw underwent 18 joint replacements and reconstructions at OrthoCarolina, including procedures on her shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, hands, and meniscus. Her care was guided by a team of four orthopedic specialists who worked together to create a patient-centered, personalized treatment plan tailored to her needs.
“When I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, it felt like I had a chance to fight again,” said Bradshaw. “The doctors at OrthoCarolina didn’t just treat my joints – they helped restore pieces of my life I thought were lost forever. Every surgery brought me closer to feeling like myself again.”
OrthoCarolina’s collaborative care model played a critical role in her recovery. Surgeons, physical therapists, and staff maintained open communication with Bradshaw throughout each stage of treatment. Shared decision-making, comprehensive education, and clear expectations helped her feel confident and supported at every step.
Extraordinary resilience
“Meghan’s case of Lyme arthropathy was one of the most advanced that I’ve encountered,” said Dr. Glenn Gaston, a hand specialist at OrthoCarolina. “She showed extraordinary resilience throughout her entire journey. Our goal wasn’t just to restore joint function, but it was also to help give her life back.”
Today, Bradshaw calls herself the “Bionic Woman,” a title she embraces with pride. But her story doesn’t end with recovery. It has evolved into advocacy.
After earning her master’s in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she became a national voice for Lyme disease awareness. As Government Relations Manager for the Center for Lyme Action, she has met with more than 100 members of Congress to push for improved education, diagnosis, and care for tick-borne illnesses.
“I’ve turned my pain into purpose,” Bradshaw said. “Every time I share my story, it’s for the people still searching for answers, just like I was.”
Marking a decade since her first symptoms, Bradshaw’s journey continues. This May, during Lyme Disease Awareness Month, her voice stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, the value of accurate diagnosis, and the life-changing impact of compassionate, expert care.
Arthritis is a condition that causes joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Though there’s no cure, you can use natural treatments such as heat and cold therapy to slow its progression and manage symptoms.
Heat and cold therapy are common treatments for arthritis due to their ability to alleviate pain, discomfort, and stiffness in joints, muscles, and soft tissues. The treatments may help to improve mobility, increase flexibility, and boost blood circulation, which may bring you immediate relief. Heat and cold therapyTrusted Source may also be slightly beneficial in improving function and quality of life.
You can use a combination of heat and cold therapy based on your symptoms and which treatments you find most effective, convenient, and enjoyable. Depending on time, convenience, and preference, you may add some of these therapies to your routine. Aim to do heat or cold treatments a few times daily.
Continue reading to learn more about the various types of heat and cold therapy. These simple treatments may relieve arthritis symptoms and help you to feel better.
Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, decreases blood flow to the affected area, which can reduce swelling and inflammation. It may have a numbing effect and help to relieve pain. However, it may exacerbate muscular tension.
In general, cold therapy is best for painful, inflamed joints, making it the best option for acute pain, inflammation, or swelling. It may be beneficial to do cold therapy after exercise or physical activity that causes discomfort. For best results, elevate the affected area.
Do not use cold therapy if you have poor circulation or a sensory condition such as diabetes that inhibits your ability to detect particular sensations. Talk with your doctor before using cold therapy if you have cardiovascular or heart disease.
To prevent nerve, tissue, and skin damage, do cold therapy for a maximum of 20 minutes. Continually check to make sure you can feel sensations in the affected area.
Ice pack
Apply a bag of frozen food, a bag of ice, or an ice pack to the affected area. You can also freeze a wet towel or sponge before applying it to the affected area. Wrap a towel around your ice pack to protect your skin.
Apply the pack for up to 20 minutes at a time. Stop the treatment if your skin begins to feel numb.
Check out some of the best ice packs for joint pain here.
Ice massage
Use an ice cube to massage the affected area. You can make a large ice block by freezing water in a paper cup.
Have a towel handy to absorb excess moisture.
Ice bath
You can take a full or partial ice bath to reduce inflammation and muscle pain. Stay in an ice bath for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Cold bath or shower
For an option that’s less extreme than an ice bath, take a cold bath or shower. According to a 2017Trusted Source study, cold mist showers may help to reduce pain in people with chronic inflammatory arthritis.
There are several types of heat therapy, called thermotherapy, options for arthritis. Heat therapy improves circulation and causes your blood vessels to expand. This helps your body to deliver more blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the affected area, which may reduce inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Heat therapy may also improve mobility, which makes it easier to relax, loosen up, and move.
If a heat therapy session causes swelling, redness, or inflammation avoid further treatments until your symptoms subside. Avoid using heat therapy during a flare-up or the acute stage of an injury. Talk with a healthcare professional before using heat treatments if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.
Do not use heat therapy if you have any of the following conditions:
diabetes
dermatitis
vascular diseases
deep vein thrombosis
multiple sclerosis (MS)
Hot shower
Hot showers may be beneficial to prepare for exercise or the day ahead. They may alleviate stiffness, improve mobility, and increase flexibility. Make sure the water isn’t too hot, especially if you have any cardiovascular concerns.
Warm compress
Apply a hot water bottle, electric heating pad, or homemade heating pad to the area of concern for up to 20 minutes at a time. For a full-body treatment, use an electric blanket.
This therapy is not suitable for people who have diabetes, have impaired sensation, or have had a stroke.
Swim or exercise in warm water
Swimming and exercising in warm water allows you to build muscle strength, improve flexibility, and increase mobility while reducing compression to your joints. This may help to ease discomfort and alleviate stiffness.
If you live near a warm body of water, take a dip in a natural setting. Otherwise, find a heated pool in your area. Aim to spend at least 20 minutes in the water.
Bath
Take a warm bath to relax and release tension or pain. For more benefits, add ingredients such as baking soda, Epsom salts, or essential oils. You can bathe for up to 2 hours.
Saunas and steam rooms
You can use a dry sauna, infrared sauna, or steam room to improve circulation and alleviate stiffness.
The results of a 2018Trusted Source review suggest that consistent use of a dry sauna is beneficial for people with rheumatoid arthritis as well as chronic pain syndrome. It may also help athletes to improve performance.
You can stay in a dry sauna or steam room for up to 15 minutes though you may want to begin with shorter sessions. Give yourself plenty of time to cool down in between sessions.
If you’re pregnant, talk with your doctor before using a sauna or steam room.
Paraffin wax treatment
This treatment may help to boost circulation, receive tension, and alleviate stiffness.
To do a paraffin wax treatment, dip your hands or feet in hot paraffin wax and cover the area with plastic or a towel. After 20 minutes, remove the wax. Pay attention to how your skin reacts and look out for any adverse reactions.
Many people find it beneficial to alternate between heat and cold therapy. You can switch between hot and cold therapies throughout the day. Usually, it’s best to wait at around 20 minutes between sessions, though you can also alternate between hot and cold water in the shower. Always start and finish with a cold treatment.
Talk with your doctor before alternating between full-body treatments such as an ice bath and a sauna or hot tub.
If you’re looking for remedies for arthritis to add to your existing treatment routine, heat and cold therapy are great options. You can use hot and cold therapies to manage symptoms of arthritis and improve your overall comfort.
Heat treatments help to relieve stiffness, improve circulation, and increase flexibility. Cold treatments alleviate pain and inflammation, which make them useful to do following physical activity. The effect of heat and cold therapy may only last a few hours, though over time they may help to reduce the severity of pain and keep symptoms at bay for longer.
Choose the remedies that yield the best results and add them to your self-care routine. Always make sure to protect your skin since hot and cold therapy have the potential to cause skin damage. Talk with a healthcare professional before starting any new therapy, especially if you have any additional medical conditions or take medications.
Fibromyalgia Awareness Month is important to me because I have it and know others that do. One of the biggest challenges Fibromyalgia patients face is there are so many different symptoms and they mimic other illnesses. That’s one reason it can years to get a proper diagnosis.
Why National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, complicated disease that affects millions of men and women throughout the world. A musculoskeletal illness produces widespread severe pain with symptoms like increased skin sensitivity, muscular rigidity, difficulty sleeping, memory and attention problems, excessive weariness, and headaches.
It is a challenging condition to identify because there isn’t a single test that can detect and treat it, and the symptoms get frequently misdiagnosed as attributed to other illnesses. Many people feel that the condition is psychological and not genuine due to a lack of research and the difficulties in defining the variables that cause it. Furthermore, there is no permanent relief for the suffering.
As a result, the keys to combating Fibromyalgia are awareness and financing. The goal of this day is to raise awareness about the condition and to encourage further research into finding a cure. The day’s observances greatly minimize the level of threat and the likelihood of being afflicted. When we try to learn more about a disorder like fibromyalgia, we realize just how far we’ve come in terms of innovation and advancement. Observing National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day allows us to reflect on our accomplishments.
Thoughts
Another huge challenge of having Fibromyalgia is it’s invisible, you don’t look sick unless you’re having your worst day. Most of the time you look fine and that is where the misunderstanding about the illness starts with friends and family. You can’t predict how you’ll feel tomorrow let alone next week, so you make plans, only to have a flair day and can’t get out of bed or can’t think straight and have to cancel your plans.
When people think you look fine and you’re not they can take it personally, that’s why it is important to share the basics of the illness and tell them that when you have to cancel on short notice it has nothing to do with them or not wanting to see them.
One suggestion for those newly diagnosed is to take your loved one or family member to a doctor’s appointment. This made a huge difference for me with my mental illness. My husband got to hear everything from the doctor’s mouth and got a better understanding of what I was dealing with. We also tell our doctor symptoms we don’t talk about every day and this is another time your loved one can understand all the ways Fibromyalgia affects your life.
Another way you can help is to participate in a Clinical Trial for Fibromyalgia, Keep your eyes open for news about trials in your area. It’s always possible you’ll get a drug that helps you in some way vs a placebo. It’s a 50% chance. The key is to understand the risks and or interactions with your other medications.
Go easy on yourself. If the house isn’t as clean as you’d like, don’t worry about it. Work a little at a time or call a house cleaning service if you can.
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