If you suffer from arthritis, taking prescription pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications, as recommended by your doctor, can go a long way towards improving your comfort. However, you may still be left with some pain and stiffness in your joints, even after taking your medications. Consider using these natural therapies, such as the ones provided by Chris Teeple Muscle Specialist, in conjunction with your prescriptions to ease that lingering discomfort.

Massage Therapy

Look for a massage therapist in your area who has experience working with arthritis patients. Often, someone who offers therapeutic massage is a better choice than someone who offers spa-style, relaxation-based massages. The massage therapist will use a combination of firm and gentle strokes to relax the muscles around your painful joints. This stimulation will help open up the blood vessels around your joints, which can help alleviate some of the inflammation.

Before your massage begins, be sure to tell your therapist about your arthritis and indicate which joints are the most painful. They will then know to be more careful around these joints and also to focus on loosening muscles in those areas.

Water Aerobics

Moving and flexing your joints can help keep arthritis pain at bay. But it's hard to move and flex when you feel stiff and when weight-bearing exercise seems to increase your pain. That's where water aerobics comes in. The "cushion" that the water provides allows you to move in ways that you can't on dry land. Getting your heart pumping will help carry inflammation away from your joints, and the bending will help stimulate your body to create more lubrication within your joints.

Look for water aerobics classes at a local gym or community center. Start with the beginner classes and see how those make your joints feel. After a few weeks, you can move up to more difficult classes if you feel so inclined.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is great for relieving all types of pain, from headaches to arthritis. It involves inserting tiny, thin needles at various areas along the body. According to traditional medicine, these needles heal ailments by re-directing the flow of energy through the body. Modern scientists surmise that acupuncture really works by stimulating the release of certain neurotransmitters and hormones that relieve pain and promote healing.

If yo do decide to seek acupuncture treatment, make sure you work with a licensed therapist. He or she will have a better idea of how to specifically address your arthritis pain, depending on the exact joints which are affected.