Battling pain in the neck

Dear Betsy, I liked your article about sleeping and how to use natural things instead of drugs. Can you also suggest some natural ways to deal with the pain of arthritis? I have it in my hands and I also have a neck problem which means I am rarely without pain.

I do take pain medication when it is really bad, but I would like to hear your wisdom about managing pain naturally.

Joan Langham.

Dear Joan,

I AM_sorry to hear you are in pain, but yes, of course, there are ways to minimise your pain and learn to deal with it, other than drugs, but it is essential you do not suddenly cease taking any medication without consulting your doctor.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can be very helpful but many of you don't like to contemplate the possible side effects of long-term use and so if there are alternative ways to manage your condition then I recommend you explore them.

Diet has shown to be a factor in managing arthritic conditions in some individuals. Certain foods can cause an inflammatory-like reaction in the body. Red meats, wheat and dairy products seem to be the worst culprits.

Focus on a diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and lots of oily fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel. Eggs provide an excellent form of protein and contrary to previous belief; it seems that eggs are not a major source of potential cholesterol worries after all.

I recommend brown English organic eggs, that can be found in Alosra supermarket. A tasty supper dish would be steamed brown rice with poached haddock with a poached egg on top and a mixed salad. This would be highly nutritional and not potentially 'inflammatory' for your body.

Taking a daily supplement of fish oils or any supplements that contain omega 3, 6 and 9 have been shown to be beneficial to the joints as well as our little grey cells.

You will find several brands readily available in your local pharmacy. It can take up to three months for you to begin to reap the benefits of this type of supplement, so don't expect miracles.

Gentle exercise of your hands on a daily basis can help, especially if the movements are performed under water.

Sitting in a warm bath is one way to do this or fill your sink with warm water and perform some simple movements such as flexing the fingers, making circles with your wrists, 'playing the piano' type movements and touching each finger in succession to your thumb and repeating this movement back and forward.

Take care when using your hands throughout the day to avoid undue stress on your joints and try not to carry or lift anything too heavy and avoid movements where you need to use pressure, such as opening a tight bottle or jar. There are some special tools you can buy to help with these tasks.

One of the latest techniques thought to help with arthritic pain is the use of FIR or Far Infra Red heat. This current is thought to stimulate the micro-circulation and bring fresh nutrient-rich oxygenated blood to your joints to help relieve swelling whilst at the same time carry away toxins.

Used regularly this can have an extremely beneficial effect. You can find special gloves and bootees with this function and even a full size electric blanket on sale in pharmacies, health shops and even some of the larger hypermarkets in Bahrain. Look for products that have FIR and not simply IR or Infra Red as this is quite different.

If you are diabetic, check with your doctor before using any of these products.

I also recommend drinking lots of mineral water and taking regular gentle exercise such as swimming or walking and regular saunas or steam baths to help detox the body.