3 Ways to Manage Joint Pain and Enjoy the Holidays

The holidays are a time for joy and connection. But if you live with arthritis or chronic joint pain, long hours in the kitchen or extended travel can trigger joint pain flare-ups. The rich food and heavy lifting can also leave your joints swollen, stiff, and throbbing. 

At Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in San Antonio and Live Oak, Texas, Sergio Alvarado, MD, and our expert team understand how important it is to stay active and enjoy the holiday season without suffering. We develop a personalized pain management plan with you, so you can focus on celebrating and spending time with your family.

In the meantime, here’s how you can be proactive and reduce joint pain on your own. 

How to manage joint pain through the holidays

Managing joint pain during busy holiday weeks requires consistency. These simple habits can help keep inflammation and stiffness in check: 

1. Maintain daily movement

When your joints ache, it’s tempting to head to the closest comfortable chair and make yourself at home. Resting can help your joints, but only in moderation. Too much inactivity, on the other hand, can make joint pain and stiffness much worse. 

Delegate heavy tasks such as lifting posts, rearranging furniture, or carrying groceries, but don’t ignore basic movements like stretching, walking, and low-impact aerobic activity like swimming or biking. 

These low-impact exercises can improve arthritis symptoms, as long as you take it slow and listen to your body. If you feel joint discomfort, take a break.

2. Manage inflammation from the inside 

What you eat can influence how your joints feel. Processed foods, sugar-heavy desserts, and alcohol can increase inflammation and pain sensitivity. Aim to include some anti-inflammatory foods in your holiday diet, such as leafy greens, berries, walnuts, and plenty of water. 

Staying hydrated supports healthy, well-lubricated cartilage and joint tissues. If you eat a colorful plate of fruits and vegetables, you’re helping your body get inflammation-fighting nutrients, too. 

3. Plan for comfort and recovery

You can still enjoy cooking, decorating, and time around the table with a few ergonomic adjustments. You may benefit from:

• Wearing supportive shoes when standing for a long time 
• Applying a heating pad before activity to loosen joints 
• Icing achy joints after lengthy use to reduce inflammation 
• Planning to take periodic rest breaks throughout the day 

Don’t skimp on sleep and rest, either. Research shows that getting enough quality sleep and managing your stress can help control joint pain. Even if you don’t sleep and simply lie down for a while, it can help your muscles and joints recover more quickly. 

Expert care for joint pain in San Antonio, Texas 

With a bit of planning, you can protect your joints without skipping the festive moments you love. Make time to move a little every day, eat smart, and pace yourself so you can enjoy the holiday season to the fullest. 

Tired of suffering from joint pain? We’re here to help. Schedule a visit at Spine & Pain Center of San Antonio in San Antonio or Live Oak, Texas, today.