Both heat and cold can be used to reduce
the symptoms of arthritis. Both are natural treatments and
when used properly have no side harmful side effects.
Cold Treatments
Cold packs can help to numb the sore area.
Cold reduces swelling and pain especially within the first
48 hours of a flare up of inflammation and pain therefore
reducing the discomfort.
You can use a bag of frozen peas as it will
easily mould to your body and roll it gently over the inflamed
area for 15 minutes, repeat every few hours.
Safety precautions for cold treatments
1] Check with your doctor before using this
type of treatment, make sure that it is suitable for you
individually and will not cause you any harmful side effects.
2] Wrap a towel over the ice or frozen peas
before applying it to the skin.
3] Do not use this treatment over areas where
open cuts or sores exist.
Do not use any creams or lotions on the skin while you are
using this treatment.
Make sure the cold pack or ice is not too cold as this can
cause unnecessary damage to the skin and muscles such as
blisters.
4] Use this treatment for 15-20 minutes at
a time.
5] Always allow skin temperature to return
back to normal after each treatment before any further treatments
are applied.
6] If this treatment is used on children,
use a milder temperature as they have more sensitive skin.
7] Once you have completed the treatment,
check the treated area to see if there is any new or increased
inflammation or discolouration. If so, stop treatment and
contact your doctor before applying any further treatments
***if you suffer from poor circulation or
vasculitis then this treatment may not be suitable for you***
Heat Treatments
Heat treatments help to relax the muscles;
one of the best ways to enjoy heat is a hot bath or shower.
The heat helps to loosen up the stiff muscles and can reduce
muscle spasms. If you decide to use heat packs instead,
make sure you use them for no longer than 20 minutes each
time to reduce the chances of burning, bearing this in mind
don't fall asleep when using heat packs as you are sure
to burn yourself if you do. You can alternatively use a
hot water bottle that has is wrapped around a towel.
Safety precautions for heat treatments
1] Regardless of which treatment you choose,
always check with your doctor to make sure it is suitable
for your individual circumstance.
2] Whenever using a hot water bottle, always
wrap a towel around it before applying it to the skin, so
preventing any direct contact with your skin.
3] Do not use this treatment over areas where
open cuts or sores exist. Simply make sure the area of the
skin where the treatment is to be used is dry, clean and
healthy.
Do not use any creams or lotions on the skin while you are
using this treatment.
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