There has been a significant increase in the number of people with arthritis over the last few years. It is a painful condition in which the joints are inflamed, and just moving the body becomes uncomfortable. Here are some strategies for treating and coping with arthritis.
Use aromatherapy to ease arthritis pain. Medical research has shown that aromatherapy helps to relax the joints and muscles in the human body, which in turn, helps to ease the pain and other symptoms of arthritis and other chronic conditions.
Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, yours or anyone else’s. Nicotine can decrease the blood circulation to your arms and legs, which may decrease inflammation temporarily. It also causes joint damage and will result in your arthritis progressing more rapidly than in a non-smoker.
It is important to stay within your target weight range if you want to minimize the stress that is placed on your joints. When you are overweight, your joints are more strained. If you have arthritis, this tends to worsen symptoms. Follow a healthy, reduced-calorie diet that will provide your body with all of the nutrients it requires.
Now, more than ever before, your body needs plenty of good sleep. Without it, your body can never fight back against the painful effects of arthritis. Make an effort to enjoy at least eight full hours of sleep per night; add a few more hours at the end of a particularly exhausting day. When you wake up feeling rested, you will feel less pain and more energy.
If you have been diagnosed with chronic arthritis, regular visits to a hot sauna may be in order. The heat and moisture from saunas can help to reduce inflammation from arthritis, which in turn, helps to reduce the pain. Make your visits to the sauna a regular occasion for maximum results.
Avoid uncomfortable shoes or high heels if you have arthritis. An uncomfortable pair of shoes can make you walk in a funny manner because pressure is unevenly distributed between your feet. This might have a negative impact on your arthritis pain. Purchase a pair of sturdy, comfortable walking shoes instead that will provide your feet with the support they need.
Plan ahead. Arthritis can be unpredictable, and therefore it is wise to always be ready to manage issues that arise. It helps to plan a job so that you accomplish it one step at a time with a rest period in between. If the work is overly stressful to your body, you should stop right away.
It is important to exercise, but you need to ensure that you are performing the right type of exercising for your body. Exercise keeps you healthy, flexible and fit. Doing light exercise will stop your joints from becoming inflamed, but you have to be sure not to overdo it. If you’re hurting, stop doing it.
Before you resort to surgery for arthritis of the knee, try sporting a knee brace for a while. Knee braces have proven effective in a reduction in swelling and pain from arthritis. Because of this, surgery should only be considered when you have exhausted all other options. You can wear a knee brace at anytime even at night.
Though it may seem improbable, the truth is that soft music actually has the ability to alleviate arthritis symptoms. Other relaxation techniques include deep breathing, meditation and the application of heat. It can also help you to fall asleep if you are kept awake by pain at night.
Heat can help pain that induces fatigue. Some believe cold packs are best, but that’s not so for arthritis. It’s better to treat pain that also causes fatigue using a heating pad, as this heat will treat the pain and restore your energy simultaneously.
You may have to dial back your activity level if you suffer from Psoriatic Arthritis. You may have less energy than before. Don’t pretend they are, as it can make your symptoms worse. Choose the things most dear to you and focus your thoughts and energy towards those. Remember, nobody expects you to do everything all the time.
Watch your protein intake to help manage arthritis symptoms. Arthritis sufferers need more protein than other people; the disease robs your body of stored protein faster than normal. Getting enough protein will help you fight inflammation and painful attacks. If you’re committed to a vegetarian diet, find those meat-free alternatives that still give you the protein you need.
A cane can greatly improve your mobility. Many people who have been diagnosed with arthritis avoid using a cane, as they feel that it carries the negative stigma of being disabled. The truth is that if a cane makes it easier for you to walk without pain, you are far less disabled that you would be without it. Choose a cane that fits your personality to feel more comfortable using it.
Shed some weight. Carrying around even just a couple of extra pounds can have a tremendously adverse relationship with the swelling and inflammation you may experience with arthritis. Carrying around those extra pounds can be very stressful on the body’s joints, leading to pain and suffering. Shedding some pounds can lessen how many times you have a episode, so losing that weight might be what you need.
Sleep as best youc an. Getting the proper amount of rest helps to rejuvenate the body, while giving you the energy needed to tackle the following day. Keep all the lights off in your room when you are trying to sleep, even go as far as to cover up the time on your alarm clock. Also utilize some relaxation techniques to aid in better sleep.
Talk to your friends and family about your arthritis. Once they understand what you are going through, they are in a better position to give you support and assistance. Friends and family members may be able to help you research new treatments for arthritis.
Learn the symptoms of arthritis. In the earliest stages of the condition, the best thing you could possibly do for yourself is to recognize onset. If you are afflicted by any symptoms of arthritis, then you should have your condition properly diagnosed by a doctor. This will help you to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Castor oil rubbed into the joints is very helpful in relieving stiffness and pain. While the oil itself has many positive benefits for your joints, massaging it in can actually give you double the relief. Massage increases blood flow, lessening pain and swelling, and the stiffness benefits from the castor oil.
Castor Oil
It is a good idea to talk to a counselor so that you can express how your arthritis is affecting you emotionally. When you are in constant pain, it is very hard on your body, mind and spirit. A licensed therapist can assist you in coping with and understanding your emotions relating to arthritis in a healthy way.
Castor oil can be rubbed on your joints to make the stiffness go away. Castor oil has a lot of benefits for the joints, it can help you a great deal! However, even the act of massaging the oil has its own benefit. Massaging the area will help increase your blood flow, which helps reduce inflammation, while the oil itself will loosen up your stiff joints.
As you are continually trying new treatments, it might be helpful to keep a record of your results. Rate your pain from 1 to 10 before you start your treatment. Then you will be able to more accurately decide if the treatment is helpful.
Studies have shown that more people now suffer from arthritis than ever before. The reasons may be because of poor diet and today’s sedentary lifestyles. It also may be because of an aging population. If you use the information presented here, you increase your life’s quality by treating your arthritis and its symptoms.
A pro-active position in developing an arthritis therapy plan is essential. Variations in needs, pain levels, and symptoms are endless due to the millions of patients and hundreds of types of arthritis. Research the available treatments and work to find those that reduce your symptoms the most.