Arthritis-related joint pain and symptoms can make everyday tasks challenging. This comprehensive guide offers solutions from head to toe to help you manage.

Neck Pain - Apply moist heat to muscles to help them relax. Consider sleeping with a cervical pillow, or no pillow at all, to relieve neck pain. Incorporate slow range-of-motion exercises, such as gently moving your head up, down, and side to side, to maintain mobility and reduce discomfort.

Jaw Pain – Opt for softer foods that require less effort to chew and cut your food into smaller bites to reduce strain. Use moist heat or cold – or a combination of the two – to ease the pain. Avoid habits like clenching your jaw, cradling a phone between your ear and neck, or resting your chin on your hand. When yawning, support your jaw by gently placing your thumb and index finger under your chin. Massaging the muscles in your head and neck can also help relieve tension.

Elbow Pain - Use a heating pad or take a warm bath or shower to relax stiff muscles and loosen the joint. Apply ice packs to reduce swelling. To prevent muscle shortening, practice exercises that involve straightening your elbow, such as gently pushing light objects or mimicking pushing motions toward the ceiling. Consult with a physical therapist to explore different braces and splints that can relieve pressure on painful elbows and aid in healing.

Wrist Pain - Using a functional splint during the day can help you perform tasks with less pain, while a resting splint at night offers extra support and may prevent deformities. Exercises may also help alleviate wrist pain like using the thumb on one hand to gently pull the thumb away from the fingers on the opposite hand and with your arms extended in front of you at chest level, place your wrists back-to-back and slowly stretch them apart. If pain persists, consider working with a therapist to strengthen the muscles on the back and side of the arm.

Finger Pain - When writing, choose pens or pencils with soft grip covers for comfort. Children with finger pain can benefit from using larger pencils or crayons. If possible, switch to a computer instead of handwriting, and consider using voice-recognition software if typing is difficult. To strengthen your fingers, try using Play-Doh, putty, or a stress ball.

Hip Pain - Practice range-of-motion and stretching exercises to maintain flexibility, alleviate pain, and reduce the risk of further injury. Soaking in a warm bath can also help ease pain and stiffness, making it easier to exercise. Try these exercises: Bridge Exercise and Knee-To-Chest Stretch.

Knee Pain - When dealing with knee pain, rest with your knee straight and your heel elevated. When walking, especially on uneven surfaces or climbing stairs, use a cane in the hand opposite the affected knee. A physical therapist can help you strengthen your quadriceps to better support your knee.

Ankle Pain - Using an in-shoe orthotic can support the structure of your foot, helping to relieve pain when standing and walking. Strengthen your muscles by doing ankle circles in the bath or by using your feet to trace letters of the alphabet. Also, incorporate calf stretches into your routine.

Foot Pain- To alleviate pressure on your foot, place a small pad just behind the ball of the foot. Choose low-heeled shoes with a spacious toe box to enhance comfort and reduce strain.