Try these simple solutions to ease stiff joints.

Not all rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relief is found in the medicine cabinet. Here are some easy ways to relieve your pain.

•    Take a long and very warm shower first thing in the morning to ease RA pain. Heat from the shower stream can help reduce your morning stiffness.

•    Soak in a warm bath or pool. By immersing yourself in modest heat, pain will melt away.

•    Buy a moist heat pad from the pharmacy, or make one at home by putting a wet wash cloth in a freezer bag and heating it in the microwave for one minute. Wrap the hot pack in a towel and place it over the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes.

•    To soothe stiff and painful joints in your hands, apply mineral oil to your hands, put on rubber dishwashing gloves, and place your hands in warm tap water for 5 to 10 minutes.

•    Incorporate other warming elements into your daily routines, such as warming your clothes in the dryer before dressing or using an electric blanket and turning it up before getting out of bed.

A physiotherapist can give you many additional ideas for using heat to temporarily relieve RA pain.

Note: some heat pad therapies may react to sensitive skin. Be sure to ask your pharmacist for a recommendation of what is best for you, and discontinue use if you have an adverse reaction.