You might have a hard time going on with your life because of the pain you have; even things like opening jars can be hard to do. If this hits close to home for you, read on. This article contains great advice on living with and managing your arthritis in a way that allows you to live an easier life.
Avoid cigarette smoke, and if you smoke, quit. Nicotine sometimes decreases blood flow towards your arms and legs, which possibly alleviates short term inflammation. 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.
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, yours or anyone else’s. The nicotine in cigarettes can reduce blood flow to your extremities, which may reduce inflammation in the short term. 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.
If you’re a chronic arthritis sufferer, consider acupuncture. Studies have shown that acupuncture offers real pain relief for arthritis sufferers. Use effective techniques for relieving your arthritis symptoms on a regular basis to make sure you are getting the optimum benefit.
If you have arthritis, you need to make sure that you exercise often, even though this may seem difficult at first. With no exercise, joints become fatigued, making arthritis worse. A great set of exercises to try here are flexibility exercises. These exercises do not exert much energy but will still keep you active and mobile.
Seek therapy if you are having a hard time coping with your condition. It is hard being on your own when you have arthritis, so by attending therapy you can receive a positive reminder that you’re not utterly helpless. Suffering from arthritis can also cause people to get depressed. Therapy can help them cope with this, whether in one on one sessions or as a member in group therapy.
Swim a lot if you are an arthritis sufferer. These are great for stretching your muscles and joints and also for soothing relief. You can also try to join a swim class.
Limit meat intake and eat plenty of vegetables. Studies show arthritis sufferers have less pain or inflammation from eating vegetarian. If you cannot stand to stay away from meat, make sure at least half your plate is filled with veggies to reap most of the same benefits.
Pain Management
Try taking fish oil supplements to combat arthritis. Medical research has confirmed that omega-3 fatty acids, which are in fish oil, will help to relieve the pain and inflammation found in the joints of arthritis sufferers. It is possible to buy fish oil in some grocery stores, as well as in stores that sell vitamins and supplements.
Become your own advocate by learning whatever you can about arthritis and its possible treatment and pain management. You can find information in many resources; look for help on exercise routines, diets or pain management techniques. If you do your homework on arthritis, you can find new ways to treat yourself, or exercises you can do to reduce pain.
You should always make use of a cane so that you have proper support. Many people who have arthritis resist using canes, because they feel that it means that they have a disability. Of course a cane is worth considering if it would make you more mobile. Find one that you like, and congratulate yourself on finding a way to help reduce your pain.
Be sure to get the proper type and amount of exercise every day. Exercise will help you stay healthy and fit, and also increase your flexibility. Low impact cardio is the best way to avoid problems with your joints. If you start to feel pain, stop.
Electric stimulation techniques are something you should discuss with a medical professional if you are afflicted with osteoarthritis. This treatment has been proven in reducing the swelling in the knees from arthritis and it also helps reduce arthritis pain as well.
If you have been diagnosed with chronic arthritis, regular visits to a hot sauna may be in order. Heat and humidity, like that found in a sauna, is effective at reducing pain and inflammation caused by your condition. Make your visits to the sauna a regular occasion for maximum results.
Get equipment that can be helpful. People with arthritis can take advantage of a number of products that help them do everyday tasks. Shoe horns, zipper pulls, pens and knives are products that are around to help someone with arthritis perform their daily tasks without much assistance. These kinds of tools can make life easier and more comfortable.
Before considering surgery to help you with an arthritic knee, give a knee brace a try. Braces can reduce painful inflammation and swelling, preventing you from using your last resort of surgery. Knee braces are easily worn at any time of the day, including at night while you sleep.
Surprisingly, one way to alleviate arthritis pain is to develop your abdominal muscles. Scientific studies have shown that strong ab muscles lead to better posture, which reduces the incidence of joint pain. Be careful that you do not overwork yourself during your workout.
Be sure you have a strong group of people around you who can lend you support if you are an arthritis sufferer. There will be things you can not manage by yourself, and times when you’ll need either emotional or physical support. Also, you should try to find a support group you can hook up with to talk to others who are experiencing the same issues as you.
Surgery is not always the only solution to controlling the pain and swelling in your arthritic knees. Instead, try using a knee brace to see if it makes a difference first. Surgery should be the last thing you look at doing, since a knee brace is known to decrease inflammation and discomfort that is caused by arthritis. You are also able to wear one while sleeping.
You should share your struggles and triumphs with your loves ones. They might be ready to offer some support, share valuable information, or just help you to cope with your day to day experiences. When you help to make them aware of the pain you are experiencing, they just might offer to help you out in some special way.
If you need to perform a strenuous task, use assistant devices. Get protective pads to keep your joints safe if you are going to do some physical work for instance. Pain results from additional joint damage, so anything you can do to relieve pressure on your joints caused by unusual stressors is helpful.
Tell people you have arthritis; do not keep it a secret. Tell them how you are affected by arthritis. Arthritis is a painful and frustrating disease that can alter your mood and increase your anxiety levels. Explain your feelings to the people close to you. Sharing your arthritis struggles with the people close to you could lead to a stronger support system, and an exchange of vital information.
Taking walks after dinner can really help you. Walking after dinner will increase your energy levels and improve the way you feel, both physically and emotionally. Walking with friends can help your health, and it will also give you time to spend with them.
Take on fitness and weight loss if these are issues in your life. Weight is an important factor in reducing the pain of arthritis. By losing any excess weight, you will be lessening the load on your joints, thereby reducing your pain. You’ll surprise yourself at how good you’ll feel just by losing a few pounds.
Avoid smoking cigarettes to decrease the pain and inflammation associated from arthritis. Research has shown that non-smokers have less swollen joints and pain from arthritis than smokers do. If you are a smoker you should think about quitting to minimize your symptoms. You can get prescription smoking aids from your doctor if you can’t quit through your own efforts.
Water, water, water! If you are feeling thirsty, water is most nutritious thing you can drink. You should avoid dehydrating liquids such as caffeine.
You should take the lead in drawing up an arthritis therapy program for yourself. With over a hundred different variations of arthritis and lots of arthritis patients, there are many different symptoms and pain levels, making everyone’s needs endless. You need to understand what treatment options are out there, and which of those would benefit you the most.
Talk to your doctor even if you suffer a minor sprain, because small injuries can cause problems later on. Let a doctor do a check for minor fractures and properly wrap or splint injuries to prevent scar tissue.
Some research has proven regular strength training can maintain and even increase the strength of muscles, which greatly assists those who suffer from arthritis pain. Long-term strength training will not only improve your physical fitness, but your emotional fitness as well. While strength training doesn’t produce overnight results that help with your arthritis, when you employ it long term, it can have very positive results.
Don’t do too much work in one day, lest you strain yourself. Limit chores to no more than one strenuous activity per day.
Warm water in the form of a shower or bath is an easy way to relax your joints. Moist heat is recommended to ease tight muscles, and soothe aching joints and tendons. As an alternative to a hot bath or shower, try a warm heating pad. You can find this type of heating pad at a drug store, and they can be safely used while wet.
It is important that you always have good posture. A major factor in lessening arthritis pain is not diet or exercise but posture. You should always sit with a straight back, and when you are standing, have your feet be at least 12 inches apart. These tips can really help you to improve your posture, naturally easing the stress on your joints.
Keep a diary about your pain. You should take note of all sorts of things regarding your pain and your medication. You should also write down any medications you are taking and how often, because your doctor could use this information. Your doctor will need all this information to enable a more specific diagnosis and plan of action.
You may benefit from yoga. Yoga can be beneficial for your body and your mind. Additionally, you will benefit from meeting new people in your class. You will find relief from tension and gain the ability to focus your energy by practicing yoga.
Any healthy lifestyle is dependent on good nutrition, and this is doubly true for those who suffer from arthritis. Make sure that you diet consists of lots of fruits, vegetables, essential oils and legumes, as this can significantly increase your vitality. That extra vitality will breed energy that can be used for fitness and prevention efforts.
Did you know that vegetarians tend not to be afflicted with arthritis as often as meat-eaters? Even if you don’t want to give up meat, try to eat more vegetables. Purchase food that has a lot of antioxidants, like green beans or peas. They will help strengthen your joints. Get these foods into your diet to make yourself more healthy.
“Zzz” and “Zzzooom!” when you have arthritis! Arthritis can be tough! Get some rest, but do not stay inactive for too long. Some down time will let you reduce your stress while letting your joints have time to recover. You need to find a good balance between moving and resting. If you rest too much your joints will stiffen up; however, if you are too active you have to deal with extra pain.
If you’re a chronic arthritis sufferer who experiences problems like those described in the beginning of this article, you know how debilitating your disorder is. We hope you’ve learned something from this article that you can apply to become a happier, healthier person who has an easier time living.
Put a solid support system in place. It can be very scary and overwhelming when you begin dealing with your arthritis. Talking with others about what you are going through, and getting advice is very helpful. Do an online search for support groups where others with your condition communicate and offer support and tips for feeling better.