Using Hot and Cold Therapy

Heat provides temporary relief from arthritis pain and is something you can easily do at home as part of your self-care routine. A warm bath, shower, heating pad, or hot water bottle will offer relief, so use whatever works best for you. To prevent burns, choose heat sources that gently warm your joints, check your skin regularly, and be careful not to fall asleep while applying heat (consider using a timer with an alarm, just in case).

Cold may also provide relief (and some people prefer it to heat), especially when inflammation produces severe pain and joint swelling. Cold can help reduce inflammation and relax painful muscle spasms. Use a proprietary cold pack, or wrap a bag of frozen peas -- they mold easily around joints -- in a lightweight towel or cloth and apply it to the painful area.

Do not apply heat or cold to areas of poor circulation or numbness.