3 Things That Could Be Worsening Your Joint Pain

Are you a senior living with joint pain? Twin Cities Pain Clinic explains that minor joint pain can usually be relieved with at-home treatments like topical ointments, over-the-counter pain medication, stretching, moderate exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. However, you need to be very careful, since severe joint pain often requires medical intervention. Take a look at this brief list of things that could be making your chronic problem worse. You might be surprised by what you see.

1. Your Home

That's right — your living space could be exacerbating your joint problems. Here are some features that could be hurting your wrists, ankles, knees, and hips:

• Doorknobs
• Faucet taps
• High shelves and cabinets
• Hard flooring
• Steep staircases

If you think these are the causes of your constant discomfort, you have two choices: renovate your home or move into a more accessible environment. Take a look at some senior living options near you to see whether an accessible apartment would be a better fit for you. These senior living apartments will have features like wide doorways, accessible showers/tubs, and grab rails to guarantee your comfort and safety. They also have professional care services available in case you need support in your day-to-day life.  

2. Inactivity

Chronic joint pain can push you to avoid physical activity, but staying still will hurt you a lot more in the long run. Inactivity worsens your symptoms. It weakens your muscles, which puts more pressure on your joints. This podiatrist in Baltimore suggests patients to indulge in moderate exercise to control joint pain. Certain exercises like walking, swimming, and yoga can greatly reduce your discomfort. They also keep you from gaining weight which would add more pressure on your joints.

Plus, physical activity can help you manage other problems caused by your joint pain, like poor sleep. In turn, getting better sleep will reduce inflammation and joint pain. Exercise can create a domino effect when it comes to health benefits. 

However, you will have to be careful about what types of exercises you choose. Picking the wrong activity could aggravate your symptoms or lead to serious injury. It would be best if you stick to low-impact exercises — these don't put as much stress on your joints. 

If you're still worried, talk to a doctor or physical therapist about getting into a safe exercise routine. They can guide you in the right direction. 

3. Your Shoes

If your knees, ankles, and hips are bothering you more than usual, then you need to look down at your shoes. The wrong footwear could be the culprit behind your joint pain. 

What's the wrong footwear? The inappropriate footwear doesn't distribute your weight correctly through your foot when you are standing, walking, or running. This affects your alignment and posture when you're moving and puts additional strain on the surrounding joints to overcompensate for the problem. Take a look at the worst shoes for your feet. And see what examples are sitting at the bottom of your closet.

You should be wearing comfortable shoes with good arch support. They should be measured to fit your feet perfectly. Shoes that are too tight or too loose won't be good for your joints, no matter how appropriate their design is.

Ideally, it would be best if you asked your doctor about seeing a podiatrist and getting orthotics. Orthotics are prescription inserts designed to add more comfort and stability to footwear. They're often recommended to people who suffer from fallen arches, lower back pain, and chronic joint pain. See if they're right for you.

Did you realize that these everyday things were intensifying your joint pain? Now you can resolve these problems and find some much-needed relief.

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