Compression Sleeves for Arthritis Pain Relief

Nearly 60 million U.S. adults suffer from arthritis.^[1] If you’re one of them, you know firsthand that symptoms are painful, can limit mobility, and often negatively impact your quality of life. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis. But there are ways to help manage its symptoms. Here, we take a closer look at common types of arthritis, their related symptoms, and some helpful tools for easing pain in the most commonly affected areas.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is not a single ailment. Rather, the term “arthritis” typically refers to joint pain or joint disease. There are more than 100 specific types of arthritis and related conditions. As mentioned above, nearly 60 million adults suffer from arthritis. However, it is important to note that this estimate only includes doctor-diagnosed cases. According to the Arthritis Foundation, if we include people with doctor-diagnosed arthritis and those with undiagnosed arthritis symptoms, estimates indicate over 92 million adults may have arthritis.

Common Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are among the most common types of arthritis. Different arthritis types arise from different causes; and, although they all cause pain, that pain can show up in different areas depending on the condition.

Let's take a closer look at the two most common types of arthritis: osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis; doctors may refer to it as degenerative joint disease or age-related arthritis. This kind of arthritis normally causes changes over many years as the joints wear down and lose the smooth, gliding cartilage surface. If you’ve heard someone talk about "wear-and-tear" arthritis, they were likely referring to OA.

OA is a chronic condition, and it can affect any joint. However, most commonly, OA presents in the knees, hips, lower back, neck, small joints of the fingers, and the bases of the thumb and big toe. As cartilage breaks down, many experience pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which is the result of an abnormal immune system response. In RA, the immune system mistakenly attacks the joints, causing inflammation in the tissue that lines the inside of the joints and results in pain and swelling.

RA most commonly affects joints in the hands, feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. Pain usually presents in the same joint on both sides of the body. The discomfort caused by RA can range from mild aching sensations to severe, throbbing pain.

Easing Arthritis Pain

People commonly accept arthritis and its painful symptoms as an inevitable part of aging. However, there are solutions that can help manage that pain. While these suggestions are not cures, they may ease your arthritis pain and help make everyday tasks more tolerable.

Compression

Compression sleeves are well known for increasing circulation, supporting joints, and reducing pain. Many people have found a degree of comfort in using a hand, knee, or foot compression sleeve for arthritis. Additionally, multiple scientific studies have found that arthritis pain may improve when participants use compression sleeves. Along with easing pain, studies show an improved sense of stability, which arthritis patients commonly lose, making everyday activities more tolerable.

Heat

Heat is another remedy that can ease joint pain associated with arthritis. Consider using an electric heating pad, a hot compress, or a warm bath to relieve stiff, painful joints. Warming up your achy joints and muscles improves circulation, which increases blood-, oxygen-, and nutrient-delivery to the affected area. (Likewise, when using a foot compression sleeve for arthritis, the improved circulation can prevent cold feet, which is another common arthritis symptom.) Whether in the hands, feet, or knees, the warming relief of a heating pad or hot compress can help ease your pain.

Topical Meds

Another common remedy for arthritis pain is topical medication, such as creams with analgesic capsaicin. This ingredient is taken from chili peppers and works primarily by reducing a pain transmitter in your nerves, temporarily relieving minor aches and pains in joints and muscles. Assessments of its role in treating arthritis symptoms suggest that capsaicin can safely and effectively reduce pain and tenderness in affected joints.^[2] However, this is only a temporary solution. The pain-relieving effects of topical creams and sprays only last as long as the medication remains in contact with the skin. If you take a shower, go for a swim, or simply sweat, these remedies quickly lose their effectiveness.

Nufabrx HealthWear™

Nufabrx compression sleeves combine the benefits of compression with the pain relief of contact-activated medicine by infusing active ingredients into our intelligently engineered HealthWear™ garments. The result: sleeves that deliver embedded medicine to help relieve arthritis pain and positively impact your daily wellness.

The active ingredient infused in our pain-relieving compression sleeves is called capsaicin (Nonivamide). Nonivamide is a capsaicinoid and an organic compound that is also present in chili peppers.^[3] The pain medicine is activated by contact with your skin, and your body safely and effectively absorbs it, attacking pain at the source. As a result, the effect is more consistent and longer lasting than typical creams or patches, and you don’t have to worry about it losing effectiveness if you decide to shower, swim or sweat.

Nufabrx is clinically tested, FDA compliant, and patented to safely deliver active ingredients to your body all day. Shop our complete collection of pain-relieving compression sleeves today and find relief for your arthritis symptoms.

^[1] https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/data_statistics/arthritis-related-stats.htm

^[2] https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/capsaicin/

^[3] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Nonivamide