Managing Pain

Question: I have both Ankylosing Spondylitis and Osteoarthritis, and so I was wondering if there were ways or things I could do to reduce inflammation to help treat my arthritis. Answer: Yes, there are certainly things you could try to help reduce or manage inflammation in your body. Other...

Injections of Intra-articular corticosteroids (IACSs), usually combined with analgesics, are commonly performed to treat pain related to osteoarthritis (OA) e.g., hip and knee OA. While they are common, they are not without their risks. I will go on to talk about these in a moment, however first, it’s important...

Question: I have arthritis in my hand (base of thumb and wrist). It can be painful in the cooler months, and sometimes after a day of gardening and/or chores around the house, my thumb and wrist can hurt that evening and into the next day. Is there anything I...

Fool your brain, replace your pain What is Distraction? Diverting attention away (i.e., distraction) from feelings and thoughts of pain is a common and well researched pain-coping strategy. Its effects are variable across individuals, however, those who report high levels of pain catastrophising are known to benefit best from...

This particular Research Review will use a variety of studies and study reviews to summarise answers for the following questions about Cannabidiol (CBD).   What is CBD? How does it work for chronic pain and arthritis?  Is CBD better than common mainstream pain medications (e.g., NSAIDs, Opioids)?  Are there...

Seeing a Physiotherapist (Physio) is one of the best things you can do to help manage your arthritis and the chronic pain it can cause. Simply, no matter what type of Arthritis you have, a Physio should be part of your Healthcare Team. Physios are experts in managing conditions...

Arthritis Australia’s condition-specific websites provide tools and information to help you learn about osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and back pain. Access them using the links below.   This website can help you relieve the symptoms of joint pain or osteoarthritis (OA) and help you lead a...

The festive season can be a busy time of shopping, cooking, cleaning and gathering with family and friends. With a chronic condition, however, it can also be a difficult time managing your energy levels, eating (and drinking!), organising travel and managing stress. You may feel that you need to...