Treatment Options 

Physical and Occupational Therapy | Massage Therapy | Physical Activity | Medication | Self-Managment
Staying Connected

Podcasts and Videos on Treatment

Utilizing Science, Technology and the Arts to Transform Pain - Prof. Diane Gromala, who has suffered from chronic pain for several decades, provides an overview of the exciting potential of new technologies and interaction design in helping to improve the lives of people who live with long-term chronic pain.
Mindfulness Based Stress Relief as a Strategy for Reducing Pain - Linda Turner speaks about Mindfulness Based Stress Relief's ability to improve overall wellness as well as to help in managing chronic pain. She leads two live mindfulness exercises which are practical tools you can add to your pain management practice.
Building Hope: The Way through Pain to Self-Management - This webinar features Neil Pearson, PT. The focus in this webinar will be to help build hope for how to work towards self-management and recovery based on some of the latest research in pain management.
Finding Relief for Chronic Pain – A podcast featuring doctors and patients from UW Medicine Center for Pain Relief on the importance of finding the source of chronic pain and new techniques for treating chronic pain.
Pain Management: Getting to the Root of the Problem - A podcast featuring Dr. Roizen and Dr. Dews, who describe several holistic remedies and treatment options for different types of chronic pain.
The Latest in Treatment for Chronic Pain - A podcast featuring doctors associated with the UW Medicine Center for Pain Relief on recent trends for treating chronic pain.
Chronic Pain Management - A podcast featuring Dr. Gatchel and Dr. Schatman as they answer listener questions, provide resources and share what they are doing to help patients have access to a variety of treatments.

Physical and Occupational Therapy  

Arthritis treatment may include seeing a physical therapist, which has many benefits. A physical therapist can teach you how to reduce stiffness without further damaging your joints. Similarly, occupational therapists teach you how to reduce strain on your joints during daily activities while maintaining physical fitness. They will show you how to improve your home and work environments to reduce motions that may aggravate arthritis. They also may recommend aid devices for daily activities.

Resources

• What is Occupational Therapy? – Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy and Arthritis  
• How can a Physiotherapist Help? – Canadian Physiotherapy Association

Massage Therapy 

Registered massage therapists are trained in the assessment of soft tissue and joints of the body, and the treatment and prevention of injury, pain and physical disorders.

Resources

• Massage Therapists Association of British Columbia
• Arthritis and CAM – National Centre for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine

Exercise   

Physical activity helps improve physical and mental health. It also plays a vital role in the management of arthritis. Exercise helps reduce stiffness and pain, increase energy and stamina, improve sleep quality and promote weight loss and long-term weight management.

Regular physical activity can keep the muscles around affected joints strong, decrease bone loss and may help control joint swelling and pain. There are many fitness centres and organizations that have exercise programs specifically for people with arthritis. You can also find more information on the benefits of physical activity and chronic pain.

Resources

• Role of Exercise in the Management of Arthritis - Information and research on the benefits of exercise for managing arthritis.
• Arthritis Society Joint Works - Joint Works is a land-based exercise program for people with arthritis.
• Arthritis Society Water Works - Water Works is a water-based exercise program for people with arthritis.
• Arthritis Today - Well-Rounded Workout - Tips, tricks and tools to achieve a well-rounded workout.
• Exercise and Arthritis – Video with Dr. John Esdaile from the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada.
• Physical Exercise and Osteoarthritis – Video with Dr. Linda Li from the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada
• Exercise modifications for Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis - Resource noting different modifications to make for some exercises when you are going to be joining and exercise class.
• Exercise Video for Fighting Arthritis Pain – Starting and exercise program can be daunting. Move with Us and follow along with our 8 minute stretching video.
• Exercise and Arthritis - Information on exercising with arthritis from Arhtritis Research UK. 
• Exercise and Rheumatoid Arthritis - Information on exercising with rheumatoid arthritis from University of Michigan.
• Exercise and Osteoarthritis - Information on exercising with osteoarthritis from University of Michigan.
• Fight Arthritis Pain Podcasts  - Podcasts on Psyching Yourself Up To Exercise, Range of Motion Exercises and Managing Your Movement from the Arthritis Foundation
• Physical Activity and Chronic Pain – The benefits of physical activity as a treatment for chronic pain.
• Power of Movement - Yoga Challenge to Beat Arthritis is an awareness campaign that encourages people to do yoga in support of arthritis.

Medications  

There is a range of over the counter and prescription medications used for different types of arthritis. It is best to check with your physician or rheumatologists what is best for you. As some types of arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, require early detection and aggressive treatment for best results, it is important to get properly diagnosed especially if your symptoms are lasting more than 4-6 weeks.

Self Management  

Regardless of the type of arthritis you have, self-management is important. You need to Take Action to improve physical fitness, reduce stress and manage your condition. The Arthritis Society and the Centre for Aging (University of Victoria) run Self-Management Programs in British Columbia.  CIRPD also provides various tips on evidence-based approaches to self-management.

Resources

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diet,Reducing Inflammation and Lessening Pain - Creaky Joints
• Video on Chronic Pain Self-Management - Dr. Marc White, Executive Director of CIRPD
• Self-Management: A Patient's Perspective - Dave Thomson, Volunteer with CIRPD 
• Distraction Therapy for Chronic Pain - Dave Thomson, Volunteer with CIRPD
• Breaking the Cycle: An Overview of Self-Help – King’s College London
• Arthritis Self-Management - Arthritis Self-Management Magazine 

Staying Connected   

An important aspect of managing arthritis is staying connected with your family and friends as well as connecting with others who share similar experiences with arthritis. For services and support groups in British Columbia, check out our BC Consumer Resource Guide

Resources

• Arthritis Answer Lines – Canada-wide help line for information on arthritis
• Arthritis Foundation Community Pages – Online forum for discussion about arthritis
• Arthritis Resource Guide for BC
• Arthritis Community Research & Evaluation Unit (ACREU) Community Resource Kit
• Arthritis Society Programs and Services – Canada-wide support groups, education and information centres
• Understanding Chronic Pain Patient Information Resources hosted by the Canadian Pain Coalition