There are many things that you can do to reduce the pain, stiffness and inflammation caused by arthritis. But, these tactics are not self-evident. Use this article as a starting point for learning more about this painful condition. Applying these insights to your own personal struggle, you can arm yourself with options to gain back the life that you have lost due to arthritic pain.
Stay away from cigarette smoke, and quit if you do smoke. Nicotine reduces the blood flow to the extremities which can reduce inflammation short term. You should understand though, that this lessened blood flow can cause significant damage to your joints, which will result in greater arthritis symptoms.
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, yours or anyone else’s. Initially, your inflammation may subside as the nicotine from cigarettes reduces blood flow, yielding a calming sensation. Reduced blood flow could ruin your joints, meaning the arthritis is going to be worse and come quicker, than it would if you didn’t smoke.
Poor exercise shoes will only worsen arthritis. Worn out shoes may lead to uneven distribution of your weight. They are also unduly hard on your leg joints, making arthritis problems there worse. Try to find new workout shoes that provide you with extra cushioning to replace your current worn out soles.
Being able to relax and avoid stress is key to properly managing arthritis. When your body and mind are stressed, hormones such as excess cortisol circulate and trigger increased inflammation and pain, which aggravates arthritis. A good way to reduce stress is regular exercise. You also may try managing your time more efficiently or eliminating avoidable stressful situations.
Non-weight bearing activities like water aerobics are best for arthritis sufferers. These are great for stretching your muscles and joints and also for soothing relief. You can also try to join a swim class.
Switch up between cold and hot treatments. It is easy to strain your joints, so using cold and hot packs on them can reduce the discomfort and swelling. Though they may be soothing at the moment, you can end up with long-term problems with over-use of ice and heat. Try for two times per day at the most.
To enhance your ability to sleep through the discomfort of arthritic pain, try soaking in warm bath salts at night. When you relax your body, you will help the pain, and it will help you sleep.
If less invasive arthritis treatments have made no difference, it might be time to discuss surgery with your doctor. While invasive, this procedure has proven to work in most patients, restoring flexibility and mobility.
Be proactive with your arthritis management by educating yourself about the condition. There are plenty of resources you can use to learn about what you should eat, what exercises you should try, and how to deal with pain. If you devote even a small amount of time to learning more about your condition, you will learn new ways to manage the pain and other symptoms of arthritis.
Fish Oil
Being able to relax and avoid stress is key to properly managing arthritis. Chronic stress causes your body to release chemicals like cortisol, which increases inflammation and arthritis pain. Perhaps you could find a more efficient way to organize your time, exercise, or simply learn to see things from a different perspective and stop worrying about details.
Arthritis sufferers can benefit from taking fish oil. It has been medically proven that the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in fish oil can reduce joint inflammation and pain. You can find fish oil in some vitamin and supplement stores, as well as some supermarkets.
Are you a driver who has to deal from chronic arthritis? If so, you must understand that you can apply for handicap parking. Most arthritis sufferers don’t take advantage of this, because they aren’t aware.
If you have knee arthritis, try knee braces before choosing to have surgery. Having surgery on your knees should be your last resort. Knee braces can often reduce the swelling and the pain associated with arthritis in those joints. It’s possible to even wear your brace while sleeping.
Staying at a normal weight will put less pressure on your joints. Being overweight can strain your joints, worsening arthritis symptoms as a result. Do not skip meals or deny yourself food in order to shed pounds, but adhere to a diet that provides your body with the necessary nutrients.
Talk to your friends and family members about how arthritis is affecting you. Online forum are also available to discuss your symptoms and treatments. If those around you are aware of your feelings of discomfort, they are going to be empowered to help you out.
A cane can greatly improve your mobility. Many arthritis sufferers choose not to use a cane, because they believe it signifies a disability. If a cane helps to alleviate your pain and help your mobility then it makes you less disabled, not more. Find a stylish cane and you can pull off a fun look.
Keep others aware of what’s going on with you. Let them know about your arthritis condition and how it makes you feel. Arthritis can change your personality due to stress and anxiety, and often this will affect your relationships with others. Talk to people close to you and let them know how you feel. Help your friends and family to understand what you’re going through, so that they can support you and help as much as they can.
Do not impose guilt on yourself or allow anyone else to do so. You may not feel confident doing certain things if you have arthritis. Feeling like you need to or guilty about being unable to will only make things worse. Not being able to do everything is not a reason to feel bad.
A timer can help you from working too long. When you need to do chores, set the timer for five to ten minutes as a reminder to take a short break. Do not ignore the pain so you can finish what you are doing or you will make things worse.
One way to fight arthritis is to lose weight. Excess weight can increase swelling and inflammation associated with arthritis. Having excess weight can actually place more strain on joints, and that is what causes the flare ups. Losing weight can reduce both the intensity and the rate of occurrences, so dropping a few pounds may be literally just what the doctor ordered.
Record your diet, activities and any pain you experience to determine things that may elicit arthritic symptoms. This record might give you some insight on what kinds of behaviors or actions are triggering arthritis flare-ups. Jot down everything you can so that when you have different levels of pain you can associate that with your diet, location, and activity.
Laugh a lot! If you want to lift your spirits and ease your stress, try watching a comedy, reading a humorous book or sharing funny stories with your family and friends. Laughter can help reduce the symptoms of arthritis, so make sure to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Your diet is crucial to dealing with arthritis. Eat vegetables, beans and fruits to improve your physical abilities and increase your energy level. A diet containing natural fruit products and vegetables is undeniably good for your health.
Stay on the lookout for new arthritis treatments. Sometimes, physicians don’t try new things with patients until the treatment they are using becomes ineffective. Remember that you have the final say over the treatment of your body, so don’t hesitate to bring up new treatments you are interested in trying with your doctor.
There are techniques available to help alleviate the discomfort and limitations arthritis can cause. Using the information here you can win the battle with arthritis and have less pain in your life. Follow this advice to get rid of the pain in your daily life and prevent the condition from getting worse.
If you are an arthritis sufferer, you will be constantly on the lookout for new ways to treat your condition. Each time you try something new, rate your pain on a one to ten scale before doing anything. That makes it much easier to determine the difference in pain before and after treatment.