Arthritis can be painful, and there are millions of people that deal with it every day. If you are looking to effectively deal with arthritis, you will need the proper knowledge. The article provided gives many tips on how to treat arthritis and will help you go on your way.
Stretch your symptom-free joints every day. A warm shower followed by a gentle stretching routine will cause you to feel looser for the rest of the day. Warm, loose muscles will cause less stress on your joints, which means that you will suffer from fewer flare-ups and less pain throughout your day.
Medications should never be altered until you check with your physician. Some medicines build up in your system over time, while some will actually make things worse if you just quit taking them one day.
Before you begin self-treating for arthritis pain, be absolutely certain that the cause of your joint pain and stiffness is really osteoarthritis. A lot of people make assumptions that aches and pains they suffer as they age are from arthritis, but a wide variety of ailments can cause joint pain. A CT-Scan is the best way to know if your pain is really caused by arthritis.
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.
Learn tai-chi. Tai-chi is a mind and body connective technique, that is also a form of light martial arts. Using tai-chi can help to convince yourself your body is not in as much pain as your mind believes. Some arthritis sufferers even claim that the use of this method allows them to use their mind to convince their body they are more flexible.
You may want to consider using celery seeds if you suffer from chronic arthritis. Not only are these seeds natural and healthy, but they help to reduce some of the swelling that is associated with arthritis pain and other chronic conditions. You can purchase these seeds from many health food stores.
It is very important that you drink a lot of water and stay away from sugary drinks if you suffer from chronic arthritis. Water helps to improve muscle and joint strength, while sugary drinks like soda make you gain weight, which causes more pressure to be put on your joints.
Learn ways to adapt to your child’s need to play without injuring yourself or making your rheumatoid arthritis worse. If your child wants to play on the floor, try sitting on the bed or on the stairs to give yourself a break from trying to get up and down from the floor.
Find a support group. Suffering from arthritis can make you feel like an invisible and lonely victim, even when you are not. Joining a support group of others who have the same condition can help you feel better about it, as well as give you a way to share ideas for coping.
Before you resort to surgery for arthritis of the knee, try sporting a knee brace for a while. A knee brace can have several benefits, supporting your knee and protecting it from further injury as well as mitigating pain from inflammation. It’s possible to even wear your brace while sleeping.
Be patient with your doctor. With over a hundred different kinds of arthritis in existence, it may take a lot of time and tests before your doctor can tell you which specific one you have. In the meantime, research arthritis in general to find out what you may be dealing with in the future.
Store items on your countertop that you would normally place in your pantry to help avoid straining yourself in the kitchen. Make sure that you use lids that are lightweight and easy to remove. Simple changes like this can make your time in the kitchen more bearable.
When trying to separate egg whites, use this tip to help avoid the repetitive stress of moving the egg back and forth. Place a funnel over a glass and crack the egg into the funnel. The whites of the egg will slide right into the glass while the funnel will catch and separate the egg yolk.
If you have been having trouble turning door knobs, consider having your door hardware switched out for handles instead of knobs. When you are dealing with arthritis flare ups, you can use your elbow and forearm to do the work of opening the door saving your hands the trouble.
As was mentioned at the beginning, arthritis affects millions, along with being debilitating to daily life. However, if you are equipped with the right advice and information, it becomes easier to manage your arthritis.
