Most people know that arthritis is painful, but do you know what the most common symptoms of arthritis are? This list can also help you to find solutions that might ease the problem for your elderly family member.
Soreness and Stiffness While Moving
Your senior may be very familiar with the stiffness and soreness that she is likely to experience with arthritis pain. This might be something she only experiences in the morning when her joints haven’t moved much overnight or when it’s cold out. There may be other situations, too, like when bad weather is expected to roll in. Moving a little can work that stiffness out of her joints and regular exercise, as cleared by her doctor, can help to reduce that problem overall.
Redness and Heat at Joints
Joints that are battling arthritis may appear redder than the surrounding areas. Your senior may also feel heat in that joint, too. She may describe it as just feeling hotter in that part of her body. When you touch that joint, you may also feel some heat coming off that area. These are signs of inflammation and you may be able to help relieve the heat and discomfort with ice packs and by elevating the affected joint.
Inflammation in Joints
Even without heat and redness, there’s definitely some inflammation in your senior’s joints. Inflammation is how the body’s immune system tries to deal with pain and perceived attacks against the body. Eating an anti-inflammation diet may be something that your senior’s doctor recommends for her. There may also be medications, like NSAIDS, that her doctor recommends in order to help manage inflammation.
Muscle and Joint Pain
One of the most common symptoms, and likely the one that gets the most attention from your senior, is pain in the joints that are arthritic. For some people with arthritis, the pain ranges greatly depending on a lot of different variables. Other people experience debilitating pain constantly. Wherever your senior falls on that range, her doctor can help her to put together a plan that helps to protect her joints and alleviates at least some of her pain.
Regular daily activities can become very difficult for your senior when arthritis is flaring up or as it gradually becomes worse. Bringing in senior care providers to help your elderly family member wherever possible is a powerful way to give her the assistance that she needs.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring senior care in Palo Alto, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.
