Everyone is familiar with pain, but when you live with constant pain in your joints, it can be difficult to get through the day. You may find it hard to accomplish your job duties or to enjoy your favorite activities. 

Chronic joint pain, usually related to arthritis, affects millions of people every year. If you’re one of the many people who suffer from chronic joint pain, it’s important that you seek treatment from a professional to help improve your condition. Additionally, you can make some changes in your life and routine to help manage the pain.

1. Stick to your prescription

If your doctor prescribes medication or recommends over-the-counter medication, you need to follow their recommendations. Don’t make the mistake of tabling your medications once you feel better. This can lead to a relapse in your pain management. 

If you do start feeling better, especially as physical therapy helps improve your condition, you should talk to your doctor for recommendations before making the decision yourself to stop taking medications. 

2. Improve your diet

A poor diet impacts your joints in two ways:

• First, a poor diet can cause you to gain weight. This puts additional strain on your joints, which causes an increase of pain and stiffness.
• Second, a poor diet may not include all the nutrients and resources your body needs for fueling its important functions and keeping its joints healthy.

Maintain a balanced diet that is rich in vegetables, fresh fruits, lean protein and whole grains. Avoid sugary foods, processed foods and red meat. 

3. Get more active

You might believe that activity will make your condition worse, but actually, the opposite is true. Sure, it is possible to push yourself too hard, so be careful and listen to your body and stop when you need to stop. However, if you stick with gentle activities, such as jogging, riding a bike, swimming or hiking, you can help keep your muscles and joints strong and active to help manage your chronic joint pain.

4. Don’t give up

Most important of all is to maintain a positive attitude and actively seek options for managing your joint pain. Some treatments might be harder than others, but sticking to them can pay off in the long run.

Seek help from friends and family members to keep you accountable for dieting and staying active. Seek professionals who can guide you through meditation or gentle exercise programs like yoga. 

Whatever you need to do to keep yourself motivated, do it. It’s worth it to live a life with less chronic joint pain and more freedom.

Visit Franklin Rehabilitation for chronic joint pain treatment

Does chronic joint pain get in the way of you wanting to enjoy your favorite activities? Our team at Franklin Rehabilitation wants to help you manage your pain and improve your quality of life. Our physical therapists can examine your condition and guide you through a personalized course of treatment to help you manage your pain. Contact our team today for more information about treating chronic joint pain or to schedule an initial appointment.