• Take a long and very warm shower first thing in the morning to ease rheumatoid arthritis pain. Heat from the shower stream helps reduce morning stiffness.
• Soak in a warm bath or whirlpool. By immersing yourself in heat, pain will melt away.
• Buy a moist heat pad from the drugstore, or make one at home by putting a wet wash cloth in a freezer bag and heating it in the microwave for one minute. Wrap the hot pack in a towel and place it over the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes.
• To soothe stiff and painful joints in your hands, apply mineral oil to your hands, put on rubber dishwashing gloves, and place your hands in hot tap water for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Incorporate other warming elements into your daily routines, such as warming your clothes in the dryer before dressing or using an electric blanket and turning it up before getting out of bed.
A physical therapist can give you many additional ideas for using heat to temporarily relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Warming Techniques to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain
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Jeanine
23 Aug 2010, 22:22
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| I just bought a Select Comfort Number bed for my back pain. I asked my Doc for a prescription for it. The store accepted it and I was not charged any sales tax. Wonderful!! |
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Kishua
18 May 2010, 12:42
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| I was recently daignosed with RA, and I was wandering if the dr finds RA in lungs and is now testing to see if your heart is affected also; could this be the reason I am so fatigued and is there any hope for improvement in my health? |
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Relda
03 Apr 2010, 15:14
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| In reply to the question about your health insurance helping to pay for a
hot tub, I asked my health provider and they told me the only way it would
be covered by your insurance is if you are the only one that could use it -
a hot tub would not be covered as it is not made specifically for one
person. Medical expenses are covered for any amount you paid over 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You would need a presription from your doctor also to claim the hot tub on your income tax. |
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Shannon
29 Mar 2010, 16:49
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| The Spa I had a "raised" in ground spa put in back yard next to a pool. The spa is about 24" off the ground. This makes it easy to get in and out as all I have to do is sit on the edge and slide ito it. Insurance did not cover the cost of it, but it has been worth every penny. It is outdoors, but I use it year round, especially in the winter when my pain is worse. I keep the pool heated at 84 or so. Anything colder makes my joints sore and stiff. I use the pool as my primary excercise in the summer. I have had RA for 2 years and I have been taking celebrex until it stopped helping. I am now on difloctin (NSAID) and methotrexate with stomach issues. Hot baths, showers, spa, heating pad and heat in general are my saving grace. I am having a bad flair up, but heat works better than pain meds!! Good luck and the spa works great. Make sure you get some sort of bar to hold onto when getting in and out. That is the one thing I wish I had! |
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kathy
02 Mar 2010, 15:19
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| I lanquished away in my bathtub before I even knew I had RA. It was the
only way to give my feet relief. In fact, it was a clue to a dentative
diagnosis. My RA is under control now, but I still warm my hands up every
morning and take long hot baths and showers regularly. kathy |
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Emily
07 Dec 2009, 21:08
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| I wanting to get a hot tub or spa- Could anyone give me info that has one- and how to go about script for it - does insurance help with it anything you can tell me would be great I have very bad RA I am 28 and have had it since 14- I get my knee drained 2 times a week and have had surgeries- I can't get in and out of my tub at home! PLEASE HELP anyone know of anything to put into the tub to soak with? I have to call someone to help me out of the bathtub - so i wear a suit - the water does help |
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Martina Rogers
25 Nov 2009, 00:18
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| I am using essential oils on my fingers at night and it helps me to sleep all night. I use Panaway and Relieve It. Before I started using the oils I would use alavera leaves. Slice them and put on my fingers and wrap self-sticking gause on each finger. I would also add a small magnet on each finger. Other times I would use tiger balm pads or salome pads with the magnets. I found the oils save me time and work the best. |
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sanora
17 Nov 2009, 11:05
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| I have rhumatoid arthritis in my first finger of my right hand. I bought a pr. of polyester gloves that do not ravel for approx. $3.00/pr. at Walmart & cut off the very end of the fingers & wear them to type on the computer & I also wear them during the day & to bed. they keep my hand warm & that seems to help + they don't cost as much as the gloves that are advertized for arthritis in magazines. |
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Kris
15 Nov 2009, 09:19
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| Does anyone get chills when they are having pain? I feel nearly flu-like in addition to the joint pain. |
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Doug
04 Oct 2009, 12:24
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| Does anyone know if a steam room is good for arthritis? |
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Dorothy M Dolan
12 Sep 2009, 14:02
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| Thanks for all the information. |
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Dolores
21 Jul 2009, 10:01
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| I thought REPORT ABUSE was an answer or comment to the messages people
leave, but I found they all say leave the same message about not finding
the page. How came you don't have someone like a Dr, Therapist or someone
knolegeble to comment in what people say in the messages. I use Cold
Theraphy for my shoulder and neck pain and it works for me. I use it since
I went to a very good practice of therapist and they use cold more than
heat. Dolores |
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Therese /biehler
07 Jul 2009, 10:31
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| To Anita, Yes, I have a spa, and it is great. It is not always the answer, but it does help the pain. The doctor must give you a letter or presciption for the spa, and you give this to the person preparing your taxes. This is taken at 100% of the cost. This last spa is our 2nd one in 25 years. |
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Anita in VA
07 Jul 2009, 09:21
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| I wish I had known about heat therapy early on in my RA disease. Before
being diagnosed, I tried to control the inflammation with ice and cold. In
hindsight, I was probably making it worse! Now, I often times will just go
into the bathroom and run hot water on my hands and wrists. Does anyone have any experience with whether doctors will prescribe a hot tub for RA, whether insurance will cover part/all, and/or whether it would be tax deductible? |
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Chris
24 May 2009, 07:39
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| Isokinetics has the same heating pad for $35.00. |
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Helen
22 Apr 2009, 15:44
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| Thank you Darlene, I am going to try to find these pads. I will try anything to make the pain leave, or even feel a little better. |
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Darlene Garrison
16 Apr 2009, 18:56
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| I thought I read about the Thermophore Arthritis Pad on this website a
couple of months ago because I purchased one from Walgreens on-line. This
heating pad is the greatest. It absorbs humidity from the air and when you
get ready to use it, it makes the best heat. It will stay on for twenty
minutes and then shut off automatically. It is absolutely great!!! Anyone
can check on-line at Walgreens.com Thank you |
