Pain Relief & Orthotics: Tips For Dealing with Arthritis

It’s no secret that arthritis can wreak havoc on the joints and the feet. At Affordable Medical Supply, we offer custom orthotics for those suffering from pain and discomfort. Arthritis affects the joints of the body, and the foot alone has 66 of these joints. It’s no surprise that foot pain is associated with arthritis patients. However, thankfully there are different options available to help you walk more comfortably.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is the tenderness or swelling of one or more joints in the body. There are many types of arthritis that seniors experience, including:

• Osteoarthritis: This causes cartilage to break down. This cartilage acts as a cushion so when there is none, this results in bone-on-bone grinding, leading to immobility.
• Rheumatoid: RA is when the immune system attacks the joints, starting with their lining.
• Psoriatic: Psoriatic arthritis is inflammatory arthritis that leads to morning stiffness.

Treatments include steroids that reduce inflammation, injections, or custom orthotics that make daily tasks easier.

Symptoms of Arthritis

Some of the most common symptoms of arthritis include:

• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Joint pain
• Reduced range of motion
• Redness around a joint
• Fatigue (RA patients)

If you’re experiencing arthritis symptoms, it’s important to discuss this with your primary care physician to get the help you need. There are some risk factors that affect your likelihood of getting arthritis including your occupation, if you’re overweight or obese, if you’ve had joint injuries before, your age, your gender, and genetics. Generally, your risk of developing it increases with age with women being more likely to have arthritis.

What Are Orthotics?

Orthotics are special shoe or heel inserts that are custom-made for your foot. They can be used to help treat foot, leg, or even back problems. Custom orthotics help your foot and ankle function better and reduce the risk for additional injuries. At Affordable Medical Supply, we offer orthotics for the hand, wrist, fingers, ankles, knee, and feet at our Tamarac, FL, store.

Orthotics can help treat more medical conditions than just arthritis. They also can help those with back pain, bunions, bursitis, flat feet, hammertoes, heel spurs, high arches, and plantar fasciitis. We offer full-shoe inserts and smaller heel inserts, depending on your needs. Custom inserts may even be covered by your insurance or Medicare, such as custom orthopedic shoes.

How Do Orthotics Help Those With Arthritis?

With arthritis patients, foot pain is common. For those with rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, this occurs even more. Orthotics help to redistribute weight and to relieve pressure off sensitive parts of your foot. They also give you a cushion that helps to reduce stress on your joints.

Most doctors recommend orthotics with other treatments as orthotics can correct feet that aren’t positioned properly. Their goal is to help someone avoid invasive treatments such as surgery and allow them to live comfortably doing daily tasks.

Arthritis Pain Relief Tips

While orthotic equipment does help those with arthritis, there are other ways that you can find pain relief from your arthritis symptoms, including:

• Exercise: Keeping your joints flexible and strengthening your muscles help them to have more support. Try low-impact exercises such as swimming, walking, or cycling.
• Use heat and cool therapy: Heat treatments such as using a heating pad can help reduce the discomfort felt at night. Cold treatments also help with joint pain and inflammation for quick relief.
• Massage: Massage therapy helps seniors manage their joint pain. It is a good relaxation tool that also helps to reduce stress.

Learn Which Custom Orthotics Will Work Best For You

Alongside your doctor, we can help you choose which orthotic equipment is best for you. We also offer general off-the-shelf inserts for those who want to try them out before getting a customized pair. To learn more about orthotics, call us toll-free at 866-484-7599 or visit Affordable Medical’s Supply Facebook page. Allow us to help you find pain relief from your arthritis symptoms today!

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