
Consider Massage
Massage brings warmth and relaxation to the painful area. You can massage your own muscles or ask your doctor to recommend a professional who is trained to give massages.
- When doing self-massage, stop if you feel any pain.
- Don't massage a joint that is very swollen or painful.
- When giving yourself a massage, use lotion or oil to help your hands glide over your skin.
- If you use menthol gel for massage, always remove it before using a heat treatment to prevent burns.
- If you have a professional massage, make sure the massage therapist has experience working with people who have arthritis.