Anyone who is dealing with arthritis knows that it is a difficult condition to manage. Not only does severe pain strike you at the most inopportune times, but you have to find ways to live in a way that you aren’t further harming your joints. One of the best things you can do for arthritis, however, is learn the key ways to avoid pain and further joint damage, with these tips providing a great load of information.
Even if you aren’t currently experiencing an arthritis flare-up, adjust your motions to protect your joints. Taking care of joints that are symptom-free now, will lead to less pain later. Use good posture, use larger joints instead of smaller ones, and don’t ever assume that even a small task is an acceptable risk.
Make sure you don’t smoke. Smoking has been shown to increase your risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Not only that, but if you do develop it, smoking has been shown to worsen the joint damage. Patients who smoke most often have much more severe symptoms than those patients who don’t smoke.
If you find that your arthritis is getting worse and you cannot figure out why, you want to tell your doctors about certain medications that you are taking. Believe it or not, one of the side effects of many common medications is arthritis flare ups, and if this is the case for you, your doctor may have to switch your medication.
Exercising can help you manage your arthritis symptoms by helping you to lose weight. Weight loss can help your joints function more efficiently and help keep those symptoms under control. Talk with your doctor about setting up an exercise plan that you can do safely on a routine basis.
Lose weight to help reduce your arthritis symptoms. Losing even a few pounds has been shown to take pressure off of weight bearing joints and reduce the pain that you suffer with arthritis. It can also help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee and can slow the rate in which your arthritis progresses.
Keep in touch with your doctor about different options for treating your arthritis symptoms. There are almost always new options coming on the scene for treating arthritis. From new drugs to new physical therapies, stay on top of these advances by making sure your doctor knows that you are interested in learning more and trying new options.
Take the time to learn about your condition and keep track of new advances in the science of treating arthritis. Join an online community of people suffering from arthritis and share advice and tips with them. Ask your doctor any question you have about your condition. Knowledge is key in living with your arthritis.
To manage your symptoms effectively, try a Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown that arthritis sufferers who change to this diet see their symptoms quickly decrease, and have a better feeling overall. The Mediterranean diet is high in healthy fats and grains, which your body needs to increase your flexibility and overall health.
Take a warm morning shower. Many people who suffer from arthritis have the stiffest joints when they wake up. Starting your day off with a warm shower will loosen your joints enough that you should be able to stretch them, which will help to prevent any stiffness you may experience later in the day.
When used with a combination of medicines and other treatments, hypnosis has been proven to help with arthritis. Although doctors are not sure why, patient studies have shown that hypnosis can ease arthritis pain in up to 75% of patients. It is recommended that patients have three rounds of hypnotherapy for the most effective results.
Take special precautions when you are in the sun, and protect yourself from UV rays with sun block. If you suffer from arthritis, you’re more likely to develop other conditions that can be caused by exposure to sunlight. Try to take care of your body when you go out to prevent any new illnesses from developing.
Purchase an ergonomic knife that is designed to help you cut and slice with ease without putting a strain on your joints. These knives give you better leverage so that you can use your body weight to do your cutting instead of using your joints in a repetitive fashion.
Keep all of your pots and pans where you can easily reach them. Try using a pot hanger that comes down from the ceiling or using wall hooks that are easily reached to store your cookware. This will help you avoid bending that can stress your joints in the kitchen.
You can try everything you want, but until you understand arthritis and the pain that it causes, you aren’t going to fully understand what it takes to ensure that you are managing your condition appropriately. From the first doctor’s visit to the many treatments you may try, you want to know what to expect from the start to the end.
