With all the various treatments and OTC medications that claim to cure your arthritis, it may be hard to know what will really help. The good news is that this article is filled with tips and advice that can help you make an informed choice.
Use heating pads or ice packs to help relieve some of the pain in your joints. For the most effective results, you should alternate between hot and cold methods. Before using the heat/cold method, get advice from your doctor about exactly what to do.
Don’t get around cigarette smoke, and quit smoking if you smoke. The nicotine contained in cigarettes could reduce the blood flow to extremities; this may reduce inflammation for the short term. In addition, your joints can also suffer longer term damage from a decreased flow of blood.
While it may be hard, it is very important to exercise regularly to fight your arthritis. If you do not exercise your joints, they are going to get tired, which will exacerbate your arthritis. Arthritic sufferers find great relief in flexibility exercises, since their range of motion is expanded.
Arthritis differs from some other medical conditions in that studies have not shown any negative link between moderate alcohol consumption and increased arthritis trouble. In fact, some research suggests that a little alcohol can actually reduce the symptoms.
Studies have proven that consuming alcohol in small quantities does not have a negative effect. Some research has actually indicated that drinking alcohol in moderation may help ameliorate some symptoms.
If you wear high heels, this could be causing some of your pain and you should throw them out. If you suffer from arthritis in any of your joints, uncomfortable shoes can cause increased pain, due to abnormal gait. Wear comfortable shoes that offer proper support.
Keep a daily journal if you have rheumatoid arthritis. Keeping track of what goes on in your life can help you focus on the triggers which are making your arthritis worse. It can also help you to understand what helps. You can share this information with your doctor to help him best prescribe treatment options. The journal is a very valuable tool and a good idea all the way around.
Relax in a chair and do some deep breathing exercises. Meditation will take your mind off the pain and refocus it on more positive thoughts.
Yoga and meditation are great arthritis remedies. Both yoga and meditation are good at relaxing tension in your body, resulting in less pain and inflammation. Stick with this approach. For yoga to be effective it should be practiced about 4 times each week.
Stop arthritis before it even starts. A good way to prevent arthritis is to develop proper typing habits. Try keeping your hands level on the keyboard and use your mouth on a raised mouse pad. This will reduce the stress you put on your hands when you type, which will keep you from running into problems later on down the road.
Relax in a chair and close your eyes while taking some deep, calming breaths. A restful moment may be enough to let you put your pain behind you and focus yourself on what you want to be doing.
Staying at a normal weight will put less pressure on your joints. Your joints can become strained, making your arthritis symptoms worsen by being overweight. Kill two birds with one stone by losing weight with a good diet that also improves the way you feel.
Try alternating the use of cold and hot packs. If your joints are stressed from overworking, switch back and forth between hot packs and cold packs to alleviate the pain and help reduce swelling. You shouldn’t use these particular treatments too much because over-heating or over-icing can cause complications in the future. Use a maximum of twice daily.
A surprising remedy to the painful symptoms of arthritis, is relaxing music. This type of music tends to put your body in a relaxed state which can take away some of the pains and aches that causes your arthritis. Soothing music can also help you go to sleep if you have been unable to due to your arthritis.
Design a daily stretching program to keep your joints and muscles as limber as possible. Losing your flexibility can lead to increased pain and inflammation for arthritic joints. You can prevent this by stretching all your muscles everyday. Start at your toes, moving slowly up your entire body until you reach your head.
Electrical stimulation is a treatment option to discuss with your doctor if you have osteoarthritis in your knees. Studies show that this type of treatment is quite helpful in decreasing knee pain and swelling due to arthritis.
Don’t let you or anyone else make you feel bad. Arthritis sufferers are not comfortable or even able to do many tasks or chores. If you feel guilty or pressured it will only worsen the situation. Remind yourself that arthritis and its effects are not your fault. Just because you cannot do certain things, don’t beat yourself up about it!
Sleep in a bed that is right for your body. If you are suffering from painful arthritis symptoms, consider asking your doctor about your sleep needs. He can often recommend a mattress that will help you to wake rested each day. Every person is affected by arthritis in a different way and personalized solutions are needed.
Know how to spot the symptoms of arthritis. If you can catch the arthritis early, it will be much easier to deal with it. If these are some things that you have been experiencing, you should make an appointment with your doctor to diagnosis your situation.
As soon as possible, make an appointment with a doctor and begin treatment quickly. By starting your treatment early, you reduce joint damage caused by arthritis. The most beneficial way to start treatment is to get advice from a doctor early so you can start the treatment when a diagnosis is reached.
Lose weight. If you are overweight and have arthritis, you are more likely to suffer from swelling and inflammation. Extra weight puts more strain on joints, and that’s what causes flare-ups. Shedding a little weight may be a good idea because it can have an effect on how bad the pain is and how frequently it pops up.
Don’t let yourself stress out too much. Stress can actually trigger swelling and inflammation, causing you pain. Develop strategies for stress relief that you can employ anywhere, and make use of them whenever you need to keep your mind peaceful and relaxed. Protecting your mind will help keep your body strong.
Losing weight and getting more fit can help you reduce the symptoms of arthritis. Weight can play a role in causing arthritis, so dropping a few pounds can help you alleviate some of the discomfort you experience. Even losing a moderate amount of weight can provide significant relief.
As someone with arthritis, you will regularly be trying new treatments and methods to take care of your pain. Take note of where your pain lies on the scale of one to 10 before trying any new treatment. Then you will be able to more accurately decide if the treatment is helpful.
If your arthritis is causing you pain and swelling, you should cut back or quit smoking. Studies have proven there is a correlation between smoking and swollen joints or pain. If you smoke, you may feel symptom improvement by quitting. If you are having a hard time quitting try asking your doctor about it; there are medications that will help.
Whether you choose surgery, physical therapy, dietary supplements or anything else, you can use the article you just read for ideas to get rid of the pain and inflammation that comes with arthritis. Educating yourself with regard to your condition makes it much easier to make good decisions about therapy and implementing an action plan to help you recover.
The three main kinds of arthritis are psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthrtis. Different treatments are needed for each type of arthritis.