What is good for arthritis in the knee

The symptoms of knee arthritis will depend, to some extent, on the type of arthritis. Pain, swelling, and a loss of mobility are common with different types of arthritis. There’s no cure for arthritis, but treatment can relieve symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and reduce the risk of complications.

A Warm or Cold Compress

Heat or cold treatment may provide immediate, short-term pain relief from knee arthritis. Heat therapy may reduce pain and improve circulation in and around the knee joint. Applying a warm compress to the knee can also relieve muscle and joint stiffness and help warm up the knee before activity.

Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.

Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Get them from salmon, trout, olive oil, nuts, avocados and supplements high in the DHA form of omega-3s. Take these joint preservers. Supplements with a combo of glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin may help on two fronts: They increase lubrication and decrease inflammation (and thus pain).

Bananas: This humble fruit can be very helpful for those dealing with arthritis. A banana is a powerhouse of potassium that plays an important role in reducing sodium retention and the calcification process of bones which accelerate bone loss. Bananas can help alleviate cartilage damage of the joints.

Coffee could potentially benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis because of the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee. 5 Reducing inflammation in the body could help reduce joint pain. Also, the stimulating effects of caffeine help to fight physical and mental fatigue that is common with rheumatoid arthritis.

Citrus fruits cause inflammation

In fact, citrus fruits have anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as being rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Grapefruit juice can, however, interact with some medicines that doctors use to treat arthritis.

The vitamin D present in the eggs modulates the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis. As a result, eggs are one of the best anti-inflammatory foods.

Lean protein is essential at every meal because it gives you energy to fuel your day. Examples of lean protein are boneless, skinless grilled chicken, fish, and nuts. Since fatigue is a common rheumatoid arthritis symptom, adding more protein to your diet is essential.

Wheat products — like pasta, bread, crackers, and bagels — may spell trouble for your joints, especially if you have rheumatoid arthritis. The reason? Wheat contains gluten, a protein that can irritate and aggravate arthritic joints.

Because honey and cinnamon have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, they may also be able to help people with arthritis.

Go With the Grain. Whole grains lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. CRP is a marker of inflammation associated with heart disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Foods like oatmeal, brown rice and whole-grain cereals are excellent sources of whole grains.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as cod, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.