Living With: Arthritis
Arthritis is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the joints causing extreme pain and stiffness throughout the body. This painful disorder impacts one’s quality of life and ability to do day-to-day activities – but all hope is not lost. We explore how a simple yet effective remedy like a wheat bag can provide relief and help to manage pain.
Understanding Arthritis
It is an easy mistake to believe that arthritis is one disease, but it is in fact an umbrella term used to describe a group of 100+ different types of joint disorders. The most common form of arthritis is Osteoarthritis which occurs due to the wear and tear of joint cartilage over time. It typically affects weight bearing joints such as the knees, hips and spine. You may also be aware of Rheumatoid Arthritis which is when the body’s immune system attacks joint linings which leads to inflammation, joint damage and terrible pain. This primarily affects smaller joints within the feet and hands.
The Effects of Arthritis
Like any form of pain, arthritis can be physically challenging and emotionally draining. Symptoms often include:
- Persistent joint pain that can range from mild discomfort to agonising misery.
- Reduced mobility – the simplest of tasks feel like climbing a mountain. Arthritis can limit your ability to walk, climb stairs and undertake daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning and getting dressed.
- Fatigue – Coping with inflammation within the body along with chronic pain can manifest itself in fatigue, an extreme form of tiredness.
- Stiffness – joints become hard to move, especially in the morning and evenings.
- Mental Wellbeing – like many chronic diseases, the emotional impact of arthritis can lead to anxiety and depression.
How Can A Wheat Bag Help?
While they may not be a cure for arthritis, wheat bags can certainly provide comfort and support on the journey to living a more fulfilling life despite the chronic condition.
How they help:
Heat Therapy – Applying a wheat bag to joints can help increase blood flow and relax muscles. The heat from the bag can reduce pain and improve joint movement.
Ease Stiffness – The wheat bag is a safe and natural way to decrease joint stiffness in the morning or evenings when sufferers often experience the most discomfort.
Targeted Pain Relief – The wheat bag is large enough to wrap around joints such as knees or hips, allowing for targeting pain relief through the method of heat therapy. For sufferers of Rheumatoid Arthritis, the Eye Pillow is a smaller wheat bag and is the ideal size for hands and feet.
Relaxation – Ease the emotional stress that often accompanies arthritis. The soothing warmth of a wheat bag aids in relaxation throughout the entire body.
