The symptoms of arthritis can make it hard to get your normal day-to-day activities accomplished due to pain and stiffness of the joints. If you are experiencing these problems, then continue reading for information that could be helpful to you. This article has a lot of suggestions on how you can handle your arthritis and start living better.
Don’t get around cigarette smoke, and quit smoking if you smoke. Arthritic conditions can be exacerbated by inflammation, sometimes caused by nicotine reducing the flow of blood throughout your body. It also causes joint damage and will result in your arthritis progressing more rapidly than in a non-smoker.
When you have arthritis and you plan to exercise, make sure you keep your footwear in good condition. Shoes that are old and worn out will cause your weight to be distributed unevenly. This can cause a lot of problems in your ankles, knees and hip joints. Good workout shoes are essential to your workout, because the protect your body from damage, so always replace them when they become worn.
Do not make alterations to your medication schedules without consulting your doctor first. Some medicines build up in your system over time, while some will actually make things worse if you just quit taking them one day.
If you are having a hard time getting rest because of arthritis, take a hot bath with some bath salts. Doing this will relax your muscles and joints, which will relieve some of the pain, and in turn will help you to get to sleep easier.
Doctors usually advise against the use of alcohol, especially when you have medical problems. But, research has shown that alcohol in moderation doesn’t aggravate arthritis symptoms. On the contrary, studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption may even lessen some symptoms.
Stretching is important. One of the biggest issues for arthritis sufferers is the loss of flexibility. Your routine stretching exercises will preserve flexibility as long as possible. Stretch out every muscle in your body, beginning with your feet, working upwards until you reach your head.
Learn all you can about arthritis to stay proactive about managing your disease. You can find information in many resources; look for help on exercise routines, diets or pain management techniques. As long as you seek out the information, you are likely to find many treatments and techniques to keep pain under control.
You should aim to consume less meat; however, your vegetable consumption should increase. Research has proven that sufferers of arthritis who follow a strict vegetarian diet aren’t as likely to have pain, inflammation, or swelling. If you love meat, fill at least one half of your plate with a salad or vegetables so you don’t eat too much meat and still get most of the benefits that vegetable provide.
With a diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis, you should not be attempting to do things that you can’t do. Unfortunately, you don’t have as much energy as before. Don’t pretend they are, as it can make your symptoms worse. Instead of trying to do everything, focus your efforts on only those things that really matter to you. Do not fall into the false belief that you must do all of the activities which you once did.
If you are suffering from psoriatic arthritis, you need to reduce how much you do. You may find that you don’t have the stamina that you used to have. If you ignore how you feel, you will just make your symptoms worse. Concentrate your thoughts and energies onto what is truly important. You don’t need to be everything to everyone.
Take advantage of assistance devices if you are going to be engaging in any arduous tasks or activities. If you intend to lift 50 lb. boxes or stand for several hours, you need to take proactive steps to stop further joint damage. When you use good sense in choosing better ways to reduce the pain and injury associated with tasks such as lifting or reaching, you can maintain movement while avoiding additional injury from performing these functions incorrectly and placing unnecessary stress on your joints.
Don’t get down on yourself, or let others push yourself in this direction. If you suffer from arthritis, you may lose the ability do do certain things. When you feel pressure or guilt because you can’t do these things, thing will only deteriorate. Remember that you are not at fault. Passing on specific tasks is not a good reason to knock yourself around emotionally.
Make sure you listen when your body sends you a message. Arthritis conditions are unique to their sufferers, so only you are aware of how your arthritis impacts you. Listen to the messages your body is sending you. If you’re weary, stop to rest.
Make sure you have a proper bed to sleep in. Arthritis sufferers need to discuss bed types with their doctor to see which features are most helpful for relieving pains and preventing stiffness. Each person’s unique, so get expert advice to figure out which type of bed is best for your arthritis.
Check with your doctor to see if a weight loss program will assist with your arthritis pains. Being overweight can negatively impact your arthritis symptoms. If you drop some pounds, you could reduce the pain and other effects of your condition. You might be surprised by the relief you feel when you drop just a little weight.
For the pain that triggers fatigue, try using heat. Although many people think cold packs are most effective for any pain, this isn’t true for people who suffer from arthritis. Pain that causes fatigue can be remedied with a treatment that is warm. It doesn’t only help with the pain, it also gives you more energy.
Arthritis sufferers are continuously on a quest for new treatment ideas and relief from their symptoms. Come up with a scale from 1 to 10 that you can gauge your pain with before you start working on something new. This approach could enable you to rate progress both before and after trying new methods of dealing with the problem.
Speak to a health pro early to start arthritis treatment as soon as possible. You can minimize the harm that arthritis does to your joints if you get a jump on treatment. Once you get advice from a professional, you can start treatment shortly after, and the condition should start improving because you’ll now know what you’re treating.
Alcohol consumption has long been regarded as detrimental to those who are afflicted with arthritis. However, research now indicates that alcohol consumed in moderate amounts does not have any negative effects on arthritis sufferers. In fact, there is even some evidence that alcohol may reduce some of the symptoms. The key, of course, is alcohol consumed in moderation.
You can help combat arthritis by to listening to your body. Everyone has different symptoms and deals differently with arthritis. Only you will know how this condition affects your body. Therefore, listen to what your body says and follow what it is telling you to do. If you’re weary, stop to rest.
Even though it is a common condition, arthritis often makes a sufferer feel that he or she is suffering all alone. Consider joining a support group who will help you clear your mind of anxiety. These groups can help you find others in the same boat as you, whether you look for in-person groups or online gatherings. You may share helpful tips and coping strategies with others who understand your feelings.
Avoid smoking if you would like to reduce arthritic symptoms. There have been studies done on nonsmokers and it shows that they don’t have as many problems with pain from arthritis and swollen joints as smokers do. If you are a smoker, it may be time to give quitting a try. If you cannot quit by yourself, your doctor can prescribe you something to help you stop.
Ask your doctor what a anti-inflammatory diet entails. A proper diet will improve your arthritis at the same time that it reduces joint inflammation. This dietary approach to many cases of arthritis has been successful in helping reduce or eliminate prescription pain medications.
Hot Wax
It may be hard to deal with but if juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is something your child suffers from then make sure you consistently seek physical therapy as well as exercise, you also want to keep up with any pain relief medication. Sufferers of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have to stay physically active in order to maintain their flexibility, yet also need to take care that they are not causing further joint pain or damage.
A hot wax treatment may be just the thing for arthritis pain. If your discomfort is concentrated in your extremities, a hot wax dip may reduce your pain and soothe your inflamed joints. Like soaking in a warm bath, the heat from the hot wax will work completely around your fingers and toes for relief.
A steamy bath or shower can work wonders in instantly easing the pain and discomfort of arthritis. Moist heat relaxes tendons and muscles, and provides temporary relief of arthritis pain. A heating pad works great too. You can find them at most pharmacies, and can actually wet them before turning them on.
Look for people you can count on. Have a regular doctor that can keep an eye on how your arthritis is progressing. Be honest with your friends and family about your experiences and limitations and ask for their support.
Look for special tools if you suffer from arthritis. These tools are specifically designed for those suffering from joint problems. Many of these ergonomic tools are now readily available at your favorite store. Can openers, knives, drawer pulls, and pens have been designed a certain way so they are easier to use.
Make sure to get adequate rest, even if you have to take naps. If naps are the only way to ensure that you get the sleep you need, then try to take one at a specified time each day. If you do this assiduously, you will be managing your arthritis as effectively as possible.
As you are going through the chronic pain, having a network to rely on is extremely important. Make sure you have a doctor that can regularly check on your progression. Let your close friends and family know what is going on and tell them what they can do to support you.
Stress can increase arthritis pain. When you’re stressed, your pain may worsen and the condition worsens, too. Find methods for decreasing stress, whether they be hobbies or relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation. You can also do what you can to avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
A challenge for sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis is coping with feelings of guilt because you can’t do activities like you did before. To reduce this feeling of guilt, simply do what tasks you can, and try to let the rest go.
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.
You might have to curtail your daily activities to avoid overexerting yourself. Even regular, daily cleaning jobs should be limited to one major chore each day.