It can be difficult to learn to deal with arthritis. You can benefit from the following tips if you are the one suffering from arthritis or caring for someone who suffers from it. Read each piece of advice carefully to learn some great methods to reduce the discomfort that comes with it.
Learn as much as you can about the disease. The more you know about the symptoms and treatments for arthritis, the more of an active role you can play in your treatment plan. It can also help you to feel less alone, to read about what others with the condition are going through and what they’ve been trying.
It is important that you have enough calcium in your diet if you suffer from arthritis. Medical research has proven that inflammatory arthritis conditions are worse if a person does not have enough calcium in their diet. You can find calcium in many different foods, including milk, cheese, and ice cream.
When you have osteoarthritis, exercising your joints is an essential part of managing your condition. Experts have found that exercise helps relieve stiffness and keeps your joints more flexible. Stretching exercises along with light weight training can also improve your endurance and help you sleep more soundly, leading to less pain and a better quality of life.
Relax in a chair and close your eyes while taking some deep, calming breaths. Meditation will take your mind off the pain and refocus it on more positive thoughts.
Stopping arthritis before it starts is a good idea. One way to help prevent it is to use good typing habits. Keep your hands at the same level as the keyboard, and always use your mouse on a pad. This will prevent your hands from developing repetitive stress injuries as you get older.
If you suffer from arthritis, try not to wear clothing that is too tight against your skin. Tight clothing is just going to put more pressure on your joints, which in turn, will increase your pain. Instead, try to wear clothes that have enough room in them so that you are comfortable.
Check with your doctor before starting a vitamin regimen. There are multiple conflicting studies associated with different vitamins, so you want to make sure you are taking the ones that will be most beneficial to you. Your doctor will be able to tell you which vitamins are best for your body, as well as how often you should take them.
Conditions such as osteoarthritis may warrant a consultation with a medical professional about the possibility of electrical stimulation. It sounds extreme, but it has been shown to reduce the harsh swelling within the knees that is caused by arthritis, while also battling the arthritis separately.
Be ready. It is almost impossible to predict a flare-up, which makes it especially important to have a backup plan. Split tasks into segments in order to provide time for resting, and always make sure you are able to stop what you are doing whenever necessary.
When you have pain that causes tiredness, treat it with heat. While lots of people believe cold works well for most pain, this is not true with arthritis sufferers. A warming treatment is best for fatiguing pain because it will relieve the ache, and allow you to rest and regain your strength.
One thing you can do for your joint aches and pains is to give yourself a break with a vacation or some simple time off at home. You want rest and a lot of it, and the best way to stock up on good old rest is by taking that vacation you have always dreamed of, or even by just taking the phone off the hook and laying in bed for a couple days. This gives your joints relief from your daily routine of constantly going.
Get involved with something bigger than yourself. Having outside goals, such as helping a charity, can remind you that you are not the only one in your position. Doing this will help to distract you from pain and also stop you from feeling sorry for yourself. Many charities will allow you to help without having to leave your home, so anyone can do it.
For your sore arthritic joints, try rubbing Castor oil on the affected joints. While the oil itself has many positive benefits for your joints, massaging it in can actually give you double the relief. Eliminate stiffness with castor oil, and reduce swelling and discomfort, while increasing blood flow, with massage.
Take these tips to heart and use them to manage the pain that you or your loved one is in. They are sure to help you lessen the discomfort that you or they feel each day. Keep using the methods of treatment to get the most out of each one.
