While medication plays an important role in a comprehensive rheumatoid arthritis treatment plan, lifestyle modifications can also dramatically improve quality of life for many rheumatoid arthritis patients.
The use of complementary treatments — such as acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and meditation-based stress-reduction techniques — can provide temporary pain relief and reduce flare-ups, making it easier for you to accomplish daily activities or fulfill work obligations.
After learning about the type of rheumatoid arthritis you have, what joints are affected, and what physical limitations you may have, you can work with your doctor, nurses, and physical therapist to determine which complementary treatment may be beneficial for you.
The following types of complementary treatment have helped many rheumatoid arthritis patients reduce their pain and better cope with the disease:
Heat: Moist heat (a hot towel, warm bath, or shower) or dry heat (a heating pad, placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes) may relieve symptoms.
Cold: Applying an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel for 10 to 15 minutes at a time may help stop pain and reduce swelling of RA flare-ups and acutely inflamed joints.
Splints: Using splints or braces allows joints to rest while protecting them from injury. Your physician or occupational therapist can make recommendations on what devices to use and when to use them.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS): A TENS unit directs mild electric pulses to the nerve endings that lie beneath the skin in a painful area. TENS seems to work by blocking pain messages to the brain and modifying pain perception. It may relieve some arthritis pain.
Dietary changes: A 2012 study showed that cilantro can help reduce painful inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis. But that's not the only food that helps fight inflammation. Oranges, berries, and carrots are among the different types of foods that can help treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Exercise: Swimming, walking, low-impact aerobics, and range-of- motion exercises may reduce joint pain and stiffness. Gentle strengthening exercises are also helpful in reducing RA joint pain. Make sure you consult with a qualified trainer or physical therapist before beginning an exercise program.
Water exercise: Exercising in water reduces the weight on the joints and may make exercise more comfortable. Many gyms, YMCAs, YWCAs, and community center pools offer water exercise classes specifically for people with arthritis.
Acupuncture: A form of Chinese medicine thought to correct imbalances in the patterns of energy flow in the body by inserting special needles in specific areas of the body, acupuncture can stimulate deep sensory nerves that tell the brain to release natural painkillers (endorphins), according to researchers. There is a small amount of clinical evidence that acupuncture reduces the sensation of pain in arthritis patients, particularly those with osteoarthritis.
Massage: By reducing and relaxing muscle tension and increasing blood flow to a specific area of the body, massage can help patients through a very acute, severe episode of pain. However, massage on its own does not appear to have a prolonged effect on RA symptoms. Inflamed joints are very sensitive, so it's important to see a massage therapist familiar with treating rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Relaxation techniques: Reducing stress also can reduce pain. Formal stress reduction techniques, such as biofeedback, guided imagery, meditation, or yoga can help, as well as just taking advantage of "simple pleasures" like reading, listening to music, or enjoying a favorite hobby.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: A form of psychotherapy that emphasizes the important role of thinking in how we feel and what we do, cognitive-behavioral therapy may be helpful in reducing feelings of stress, fatigue, and pain in those with rheumatoid arthritis.