The joint disorder known as arthritis comes in many forms. Osteoarthritis is the most common form and results from trauma, age, or infection of the affected joint. Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, are caused by auto immune responses. Whatever form of arthritis you have, the following tips will help you cope with them.
Create a support system that includes other patients with arthritis. Friends and family members may not always be supportive of the pain you’re in, or may simply not understand the crippling nature of the condition. Having friends with arthritis can give you someone to talk to about your pain, who understands the problem and won’t judge you, while also taking the stress off of your family, when trying to deal with your issues.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, measure your pain. Use a scale of one to ten to let yourself know how difficult a new task is for you to accomplish. Take a measurement before the task, and again after. This will let you know how that task is effecting your body, and your life.
For those who suffer from osteoarthritis, it is important that you have enough Vitamin C in your diet. Medical research has shown that Vitamin C reduces pain in osteoarthritis patients and helps prevent it in young people. You can get Vitamin C from many fruits, such as oranges, or you can take a supplement.
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.
Consider joining an arthritis support group. Friends and family members who don’t suffer from arthritis may have a hard time understanding exactly what you are going through and how much it affects your life. Connecting with other arthritis sufferers in a supportive environment can make it easier to cope with the chronic , day to day pain and other difficulties associated with the disease.
When you smoke, you will have less flexibility, and more chances for arthritis pain. It may be hard to quit smoking, but it isn’t as hard as living with the especially intense arthritis pain you’ll experience if you don’t quit.
Buy your children’s clothing with zippers and loose fitting clothing if you are a parent dealing with rheumatoid arthritis. Trying to handle a button or a snap can be a nightmare when you have rheumatoid arthritis. Don’t suffer just to get your child the cutest outfit in the store.
You may have to dial back your activity level if you suffer from Psoriatic Arthritis. Unfortunately, you don’t have as much energy as before. By not paying attention to what your body is telling you, you will only make the symptoms worse. Instead, don’t be afraid to prioritize and focus on just one important task at a time. Sometimes it’s alright to reduce the amount of responsibility you undertake.
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.
Reach out to your friends and family members to share how arthritis is affecting your life. They might be ready to offer some support, share valuable information, or just help you to cope with your day to day experiences. Once people understand that you are suffering and aren’t feeling your best, they will often offer help.
If health is an issue, consider implementing a weight loss and fitness routine. Excessive weight can worsen arthritis, so losing it can make you feel much better. You might be surprised by the relief you feel when you drop just a little weight.
Vitamins A, C, and E as well as omega fatty acids are great ways to help fight against arthritic pain. It is not recommended that you start taking every vitamin known to man, Instead a good multivitamin or a couple of doctor suggested individual vitamins can do the trick too.
Exercise as often as possible. Not only does exercising provide you with the energy that you need to get through the day, it also helps with joint pain. In particular, walking, cycling and swimming can be beneficial, but make sure to speak with your doctor before you start any new exercise program.
As stated before in the introduction for this article, arthritis can come in many forms. Osteoarthritis is a common form that results from age, infection, or trauma, while rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis are auto immune forms. Use the tips from the article above to help you with any form of arthritis you may be suffering from.
