Health Tip: Managing Shoulder Arthritis

1. Rheumatoid Arthritis Slideshow Pictures
2. Joint-Friendly Exercises Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the RA Quiz

(HealthDay News) -- Arthritis can cripple joints in the shoulder, causing significant pain and difficulty moving the affected arm.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests these ways to manage pain caused by arthritis in the shoulder:

• Rest your arm as much as possible, and avoid activities that could strain the shoulder.
• Get physical therapy.
• Apply moist heat to the shoulder.
• Take ibuprofen or aspirin.
• Apply ice to the shoulder several times a day for up to 30 minutes at a time.
• For rheumatoid arthritis, take medication as your doctor recommends.
• Some people find relief with supplements that combine chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine. But be sure to check with your doctor before you try such a supplement.

-- Diana Kohnle

Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.