Arthritis Pain Relief

Pain Relief for Arthritis

Over 40 million people have arthritis in one form or another; and many of them search often for arthritis pain relief. Whether you're looking for a natural arthritis remedy, alternative treatments for arthritis pain relief, medical solutions, or some form of holistic arthritis treatment, the most voiced problem is often the pain.

What many people don't know is that arthritis pain is often worsened by chronic fatigue due to an inability to find quality sleep. A study by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill indicated that about a third of people age 65 and older feel that arthritis prevents them from sleeping. According to Dr. Joanne Jordan of UNC-CH's School of Medicine, if you don't take care of sleep disruption problems, the person with arthritis may not get better. In this scenario, even minor joint pain relief can become a major concern.

Sleep Deprivation and the Body

According to a Sleep Deprivation study by the Oregon Health and Science University, sleep loss can increase inflammation, increase susceptibility to infection, and decrease immune system function, all of which are critical factors for arthritis sufferers.

What this means is that if you're looking for alternative treatments for arthritis pain relief, part of your solution may be closer than you think. The challenge for arthritis sufferers is finding ways to achieve quality sleep, which is where Cuddle Ewe^TM comes into play. Our all wool* mattress toppers, comforters, and pillows are designed to provide you with cushioned comfort that doesn't "bottom out" as synthetic, cotton, and down products do. Because wool is so resilient, it provides support and helps distribute weight away from pressure points, in effect providing you with a major step toward a natural arthritis remedy by allowing your body to rest and heal.

The Arthritis Epidemic

According to the Centers for Disease Control, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Even more profound, if you have a different chronic health problem, you are at a greatly heightened risk of developing arthritis. For instance, in 2005 52.4% of people with diabetes and 57.8% with heart disease also had developed arthritis. Even high blood pressure was related: 47.6% of those with blood pressure issues also had arthritis. In each of these situations a healthy lifestyle and a good night's sleep assume critical dimensions.

Anyone can get arthritis, and with over 100 different types, there's plenty to go around. Two of the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear on joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, the classic inflammatory disease that causes swelling, pain, stiffness, and loss of joint function, and where you often find people searching for a way to releieve minor joint pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief

There are many medications prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis pain relief, inflammation reduction, and to help reduce joint destruction. Here are a few:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) - the most common pain reliever, with many varieties, some of which are safer than others.
• Biologic Response Modifiers - these drugs target the autoimmune response that causes your body to attack itself.
• Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) - these medications slow the disease and reduce the damage. Always consult your physician for guidance in this area.

Also important is a good balance of rest and physical activity. Exercise helps improve overall health and well-being and increase mobility, strength and range of motion. Rest promotes healing and helps reduce inflammation and pain. Frequent short rest periods can also be more beneficial than longer periods. A general guide is to exercise when you feel well and rest when you don't, but equally important is the quality of that rest. Here are some of our products that can help relieve sleep problems and improve the quality of your rest:

• Natural Wool Pillows
• Luxury Comforters
• Personal Wool Comforters
• Wool-Filled Mattress Toppers

OsteoArthritis Pain Relief

There are many medications prescribed for osteo arthritis pain relief and inflammation reduction, but none of them reduce the damage or control the disease. The most commonly used are NSAIDs.

Other therapies such as heat, cold, massage therapy, and neoprene sleeves are also used to reduce pain.

There are also various injectables available. Cortisone is probably the most widely known, but comes with some side effect concerns. Synvisc and Hyalgan are two others that are available. Each of these can reduce damage and thus reduce the progression of the disease.

The most important point for osteoarthritis sufferers is that, even though it is difficult, exercise is one of the most important elements to prevent the disease from accelerating. This seems counter-intuitive - wasn't it wear-and-tear that caused the problem to begin with? Unfortunately, if the supporting muscles are allowed to weaken, the problem will worsen much more rapidly. Low-weight-bearing exercises such as swimming, and possibly isometrics, biking or walking, can be good solutions. In some cases protein drinks to help build up muscle mass during exercises can help. Consult your physician to discuss these options.

As with rheumatoid arthritis, a good balance of rest and physical activity is critical. Always give your body a chance to heal after exercising by resting on your Cuddle Ewe^TM mattress pad in a comfortable position, and don't hesitate to wrap up in one of our personal wool comforters when it's cold to prevent your muscles from drawing up and increasing stress on your joints.

Regardless of the type of arthritis you have, always feel free to call us at 1-800-290-9199 to discuss which Cuddle Ewe^TM products can help alleviate your pain and discomfort and help put you on the road to a more pain-free existence.

*Our underquilts are covered with a woven cotton cover stitched with nylon thread to strengthen the mattress topper.

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