If you’re reading this, you may be feeling desperate. Living with arthritis isn’t easy under any circumstances, but it’s even harder when you don’t have good advice on how to cope. In this article, you’ll find some great tips that will help you manage your arthritis and deal better with the effects of your disease.
Be sure to move throughout the day. Remaining in the same position for a long time puts more stress on your joints than if you shift positions. Be sure to take regular breaks to stand and stretch and make sure that your work environment is set up to allow you to protect your joints.
Do not stop a medication just because you feel it is not working. Most arthritis medicines take from days to months to truly make an impact on your symptoms. Never stop a new medicine without talking with your doctor first as there may be side effects from an abrupt withdrawal.
Consider adding therapy to your strategies for fighting arthritis problems. Therapy can help you learn to cope with your limitations while still remaining self-sufficient. It is also a chance to connect with other people, reminding you that you are not alone. People with arthritis are also at risk for developing depression and anxiety, and individual or group therapy can help you to deal with any concerns you may have.
Don’t give up on finding a way to manage your arthritis pain. Dealing with a debilitating condition can leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless – particularly if you are having trouble finding any treatment options that work. If what you are doing is not working, talk to your doctor about other treatment options or explore alternative treatments such as acupuncture, nutrition or holistic medicine until you find something that helps.
Focus on strength training. People who suffer from arthritis have been shown to increase their flexibility and overall health from performing strength exercises as little as twice a week. Stick with moderate or lighter exercises to get the maximum benefits without causing any undue stress on your joints, which may cause inflammation.
Use musical therapy in order to ease the pain when you are suffering from severe inflammation. While it isn’t a permanent fix and is far from medication and serious pain relief, there are studies that have proven classical music and other soothing types of music to be therapeutic when treating pain from arthritis.
Learn the information that is out there about your condition. When you get the diagnosis of your specific type of arthritis, hit the internet and all the sources that are offered, even pamphlets and brochures from the doctor’s office, all about arthritis and your specific type, so you know what you are dealing with and how to fight back.
Have a positive attitude. Negativity causes stress and depression, both of which can be very harmful to someone suffering from arthritis. Remove negative influences from your life, and learn to see the positive side of anything that happens. Doing so will keep you going for much longer than if you let sadness overcome.
Regarding side effects, if your medication is one that may cause fatigue or other similar issues, you may want to discuss finding a different medication with your doctor. Fatigue is already a huge issue for people who suffer from arthritis, and you may not want a medication that is going to further aggravate that.
Arthritic knees can be very painful, and it is important to try and take stress off or you knees when you have arthritis. One way to do this is by losing weight if you are overweight. Doing this relieves the pressure off of the joints in your knees and helps out immensely.
Research studies show that wearing high heels can increase the chance of arthritis in women. It applies increased pressure on the heels and the joints in the feet. This is not good over an extended period of time. While high heels are something that women choose to wear for style and other reasons, you may want to reconsider putting a pair of high heels on.
Know the Arthritis Triad: osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Each form of arthritis requires different treatments.
Even though arthritis cannot be cured, there are many things you can do to get your pain under control. Be sure to discuss alternative treatments with your doctor that will give you more control over your pain symptoms. A feeling of empowerment will help you get the most out of your arthritis therapy.
Alcohol was, in the past, generally prohibited for those suffering from arthritis. The latest studies, however, seem to suggest that alcohol consumed in moderation is okay. In fact, there is even some evidence that alcohol may reduce some of the symptoms. The key, of course, is alcohol consumed in moderation.
Do not let your pain and lack of flexibility keep you from taking care of yourself. The advice in this article is invaluable to anyone suffering with arthritis.
