Whether your pain is caused from an injury, overdoing it, repetitive stress or something else, here are some ways to take care of pain and discomfort.
Physical Treatments– These are best for acute pain, or if you’ve had surgery or an injury. Many chronic conditions can benefit as well. The advantages are that they’re non-invasive, they can be combined for better results and the variety of options can fit into your budget and schedule. These include physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractor, acupuncture, massage, TENS unit, ultra sound, orthotics, trigger point devices, ice, heat (limited), yoga, foam roller, therapeutic tape, compression, supports / wraps, whirlpool and swimming. The possible disadvantages are the varying levels of effectiveness between different treatments and that it may take experimentation to figure the best combo for your situation.
Natural / Herbal / Topical– These are best for chronic pain and inflammatory conditions. There’s a growing body of research on their effectiveness and they have very few side effects. Taken orally is magnesium, turmeric (curcumin), devil’s claw root, butterbur, boswellia, ginger extract and melatonin. The topical rubs, gels and creams are Topercin, Biofreeze, Tiger Balm, CBD products, capsaicin, camphor, menthol, comfrey and willow bark. Some things to keep in mind is that it may take days to feel the effectiveness, the preparations can vary and some may be specific to the condition.
Mind Body Solutions– These work both for chronic and acute pain in combination with other treatments. Advantages include fostering a support system, providing distractions and they can be very effective and sustainable for chronic pain. Included are meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, deep breathing, cognitive reframing, hiking, aromatherapy, support groups and doing leisure things you enjoy such as cooking, music, games, dance, gardening and personal faith practices. The one thing required is a disciplined mental shift in thinking (or not!) about your pain.
Over the Counter Pain Meds – These can be good for recovering from a surgery or for short term when you have acute pain or an injury. It’s good for quick relief when used sparingly and shouldn’t be used for more that 4 days. Tylenol and Acetaminophen are the two main ones used.
If you have questions about your pain and what treatment to use, check with your physician first and remember that not all suggested treatments will be appropriate for all types of pain.
Can your gloves work with arthritic thumb joints, too?
Yes, they do help! By lifting the wrist on the wedged gel pad the thumb
is lifted too – at the base where it attaches to the wrist. This prevents
pressure on the basal thumb joint.
Thanks Paula. You and I talked years ago at a conference when you first introducing your gloves. I ordered them for my Pilates studio, BODY reFORM. Many of my students bought them and when used, really liked them.
Have they changed over the years? I am not sure what happened to mine.
Which style would you recommend for my Pilates practice?
Hi Janice- Nice to hear from you. The gloves have changed some in the glove, but the gel pads are the same. Do you know what style you had before? Probably the Pro (without a wrist strap) or the Ultra which has the strap. Here’s a link to the current 4 styles: https://www.wristassuredgloves.com/shop/ If you have questions let me know. Any glove can be used for Pilates – it depends on how much wrist support you need. If your old glove worked well you could stay with that style and get a new pair. Let me know if you want to place a wholesale order for your studio. Thanks and take care!
Hi Paula, I’m excited to order a pair of gloves to help my workouts yoga weights and biking which all flair up my osteoarthritis wrist and thumb (bilateral from my Dental Hygiene career 40 yrs still working had carpal tunnel surgery 10yrs ago successfully)Not sure if wrist support would become bothersome (too tight and pinch) during activity ? Patti
Hi Patty, I’m glad you’re going to try a pair – I think you’ll find them very helpful. As for style it’s difficult to say whether a wrist strap would be bothersome. It would offer you additional support. Given that you had successful carpal tunnel surgery 10 years ago it probably will be fine. I’d recommend trying the Pro and Ultra to see which one you like best. You might find both of them helpful for different activities. Best of luck to you!