Managing Your Pain
Thinking of pain as a signal to take positive action rather than an ordeal you have to endure can help you learn to manage your pain.
You may want to consider taking some positive actions, such as the ones listed below, to counter pain.
Taking Control
Your mind plays an important role in how you feel pain and respond to illness. You may feel helpless and depressed. With these feelings come decreased activity, low self-esteem and increased pain. Discover some tips to manage your pain and build a sense of personal control by adjusting your thoughts and actions.
Looking for other ways to manage your arthritis pain?
- Try heat and cold therapy. Using heat and cold treatments can reduce the pain and stiffness of arthritis.
- Consider massage. Massage brings warmth and relaxation to the painful area.
- Practice relaxation. Relaxation can give you a sense of control and well-being that makes it easier to manage pain.
- Consider surgery. When other treatment methods don't lessen the pain, or when you have major difficulty moving and using your joints, surgery may be necessary.
- Learn about other treatments. Discover techniques that are used to treat the chronic muscle pain of fibromyalgia or chronic back pain.
- Find out about men, women and pain. See the differences in how the sexes deal with and find relief from pain.
- Osteoarthritis of the Knee: A Guide for Adults is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Find out some of the preventive measures that can help ease pain.
Learn about other resources for dealing with arthritis pain.






