Many people say that arthritis is one of the most painful and irritating conditions that they have ever suffered from. Like anything else, it is much easier to reduce the pain and irritation of arthritis if you are properly informed. This article contains a number of tips on dealing with your arthritis effectively.
Rearrange the furniture in your home. You want to be able to walk a straight line from one room to another. The fewer turns you have to make, the less stress you will place on your weight-bearing joints, especially your hips. You should enlist the help of a friend to move your furniture, of course.
When you have osteoarthritis, exercising your joints is an essential part of managing your condition. Experts have found that exercise helps relieve stiffness and keeps your joints more flexible. Stretching exercises along with light weight training can also improve your endurance and help you sleep more soundly, leading to less pain and a better quality of life.
You should find ways to eliminate stress and relax to help manage your arthritis. The chemicals released by your body when you are stressed can aggravate your arthritis and increase your sensitivity to pain. Improving your multitasking abilities or doing low-impact exercises may help you to cope.
If you are a chronic arthritis sufferer, you should be aware that you are legally able to park in handicapped spaces. Many of those who have arthritis don’t know they are eligible for these spots, and so they just ride out the pain.
Take the time to learn about your condition and keep track of new advances in the science of treating arthritis. Join an online community of people suffering from arthritis and share advice and tips with them. Ask your doctor any question you have about your condition. Knowledge is key in living with your arthritis.
If you suffer from arthritis, it is very important that you do not get too stressed out. Stress makes the body tense, which in turn, makes your arthritis worse. It is important that you keep your body relaxed at all times to prevent your joints from getting too stiff and cramped.
If you suffer from arthritis in your fingers or your hands, you may want to consider rubbing mineral oil on your hands. The natural ingredients of mineral oil have been proven to ease the pain of arthritis in the hands and fingers. To make this method effective, be sure to put the mineral oil on your hands and then put rubber gloves on them.
Look for special gadgets to help with daily tasks that have become difficult to do. Having a better set of tools can assist the arthritis sufferer do anything. Products designed for arthritis sufferers include can openers, shoe horns and knives, among other things. They have been produced to help those in need function as normally as possible on a day-to-day basis. By purchasing some of these beneficial tools, you can make your life easier and more enjoyable.
Before considering surgery to help you with an arthritic knee, give a knee brace a try. Knee braces are known to be effective against swelling and pain from arthritis, and surgery should always be your last option. Even wearing a brace while you sleep can provide relief.
Eating proteins is important. Eating adequate protein is important to arthritis sufferers because your body uses it more than someone who doesn’t have the condition. If you do not eat meat, seek out other sources of protein, and eat them often to help with pain.
Use gardening as an effective therapy against arthritis. There are so many studies out there about arthritis, natural therapies, and one of the top therapies identified is gardening. Simply planting a small garden in your backyard or gardening with some pals can be such a great help in relaxation and relief of your pain.
Store items on your countertop that you would normally place in your pantry to help avoid straining yourself in the kitchen. Make sure that you use lids that are lightweight and easy to remove. Simple changes like this can make your time in the kitchen more bearable.
Minimize the amount of weight that you carry along with yourself. Arthritic shoulders are seen more often than you might believe, especially for women. Large shoulder handbags, computer bags, and messenger bags are common causes of inflamed neck and shoulder problems. Cut down what you carry around regularly to just the basics and travel light.
Focus on something else. When you are in pain, your mind is solely interested in that fact. If you can find something to draw your attention away from it, you will likely notice that your pain is actually lessening or possibly even disappearing. A distracting and focused hobby can be a great technique to use for this.
When you are diagnosed with arthritis, your doctor will give you a treatment plan which will incorporate many different things, including diet and exercise. It is important to familiarize yourself with this plan and implement it daily. As you do, there will be things you will add to the plan or things that will change according to what your body needs.
Arthritis Medications
Ask your doctor WHEN the best time is to take your arthritis medications. Some medicines might be most effective right after you take them, so they would be best to use first thing in the morning. Others might take a few hours before they start working, so you’d want to take those before bed.
Ask your pharmacist if any of the arthritis medications you are taking cause fatigue, and if you would be better off taking them before bed. Many arthritis prescriptions do cause lethargy, so it’s up to you to find out which ones do cause fatigue and make sure you’re taking them at times when they won’t affect your daily activities.
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