How do you like this damp, cool spring weather? It’s better than a searing hot day in July, that’s for sure.  Trouble is, it’s hard on those of us with arthritis.  Did you know that 50% of folks over 65  have it?  My husband’s physical therapist said this weather has been really rough on arthritis patients.  We know it won’t last forever, but we’d like to lessen the pain without resorting to extra painkillers.  Over the years, and after numerous therapy sessions, I have come  to rely on these 5  home remedies for spring arthritis.  All are available online, 

1. Massaging Wrap

You can go online  and find a wrap for almost every part of your body—knees, back, shoulders, whatever.  The one I like was originally designed for knees but it works great on my shoulders, too. It has 3 buttons: massage, heater, timer.  If it gets too hot, you can turn off the heat, and continue with a massage.  If you use it a lot, you have to recharge the battery pretty often, but it’s not a big problem.

2. Cold packs

I like the ones that come with a wrap, and a strap, because you can tie them around your arm, leg, or waist while you read or watch TV.  I don’t use cold packs very often, but some people alternate between heat and cold therapy.  They use the heat to warm up a joint before exercise, and cold therapy to reduce the swelling afterwards.

3. Hot rolling massager

This is a little bit more complicated than the wrap .  It’s a fairly heavy device, and the one I use isn’t battery operated.  It’s plugged  into an electric outlet.  Which means that if I turn the wrong way, it’s apt to become unplugged.  However, it gives a really deep massage, along with a gentle heat—actually much less heat than the massaging wrap.  The first time I used it on my back, I was amazed how many sore spots I wasn’t even aware of.  It’s really versatile.  Can be used on shoulders, neck, back or knees.  Just about anywhere you feel joint pain. It’s timed for 20 minutes, which is about as much as you can take because it gives you a pretty hard massage.  But I guarantee you will sleep better that ni

4. Tens Unit. (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is used for nerve related pain conditions.  The machine works by sending pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve strands.  The pulses help prevent the pain signals from reaching the brain.  This is actually my favorite pain relief device because it’s so portable.  I can pack it in an overnight bag if I’m going for an out of town visit.  There nothing like a long road or plane trip to cause an arthritis flare up.  Not to worry.   20 minutes of Tens takes care of the pain.  They’re relatively inexpensive and the  tabs are easily replaced.

   

5. Bio-Freeze or Vicks VapoRub.   If I wake up in the middle of the  night, I just rub some of the menthol product, Bio Freeze,  into  my skin, and I’m back to sleep in minutes.   Surprisingly, old  fashioned Vicks VapoRub also provides menthol , with some added camphor.  You’re not supposed to use Vicks all the time like you do Bio-Freeze, because the camphor can build up in your system. But it’s a good substitute if you’ve run out of Bio-Freeze.

Soon, we’ll be sweating away in the sunlight, watching the INDY 500 or having a picnic in the park on Memorial Day.  Hopefully, the aches and pains will ease.  But if they don’t, you can always fall back on these 5 home remedies for Arthritis.