If you suffer from arthritis or know another person who is suffering, you should understand that it’s a difficult condition to handle. But dealing with arthritis is easier when you know what you are dealing with and what you can do about it. This article has tips on how you can deal with your arthritis symptoms.
Be sure to use good posture and work on keeping your joints strong. The pains associated with arthritis can be mitigated by good posture. Always stand up straight, and do not slump when sitting. Make sure that your weight is distributed evenly across both of your legs. Soon your joints and spine will feel stronger than before, and arthritic symptoms that were once common occurrences will start diminishing.
For arthritis sufferers, it is important to lose weight if you are overweight or obese. Excess weight just puts more strain and pressure on your arthritic joints, which can make your arthritis even worse. It is a proven fact that every pound you lose is four less pounds of pressure on your knees.
To use a manual stapler while living with arthritis, press down on the stapler with your forearm. Do this instead of using your wrist. The wrist is one area that can become especially sensitive and painful during an arthritis flare up. Keeping from having to use it during those moments means less pain for you, and the task getting accomplished faster too.
Visit a massage therapist on a regular basis if you suffer from arthritis. The massages that these professionals perform on you will help to make your body relax and ease some of the pain in your joints. It is recommended that you visit a massage therapist every two weeks if you have arthritis.
Be careful of what herbal remedies you take for arthritis and be sure you speak with your doctor before taking them. People think that because herbal remedies are natural, that they are healthy for you. This is not always the case. In fact, certain herbal remedies can make your arthritis worse.
Go to a physical therapist. A good physical therapist can provide you with a customized workout that will alleviate your arthritis pain. Make sure to follow the plan in order to get the best results.
Understanding the symptoms of arthritis will help to identify it. Early diagnosis is key when it comes to arthritis, so it is important to recognize its symptoms. Contact your doctor as soon as you suspect you may be suffering from arthritis, so that you can discuss treatment and remedy options.
If your pain causes you fatigue, heat treatment should work. Contrary to conventional wisdom, heat treatments are more effective for people who have arthritis than cold packs. Muscles and joints that are sore and stiff due to overuse can respond to a heating pad or hot pack. The warmth may reduce the pain of movement, making you feel like expending energy on moving those joints and limbs again.
Set goals for yourself. Planning out what you want to do for the day or week ahead can help to motivate you into actually getting it done. You should even speak to your doctor about what you want to accomplish within the next few months or year, in order to work out a plan that will help you do it.
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.
Try to use sun block. People with arthritis are actually a lot more susceptible to a lot of conditions caused by the burning sun in the sky, especially Lupus. It is vital that you protect yourself from the sun’s UV rays whenever you are outdoors. This will reduce the risk of you suffering from other medical conditions besides arthritis.
Laughing can help improve your mood and reduce tension on your body. Whether you share jokes with your friends, sit down to watch a comedy, or giggle over a funny book, laughter puts you in a better mood and leaves you feeling less stressed. Laughter is very strong for someone with arthritis and it has many benefits.
Do not carry so much. Arthritis of the shoulders is actually very common. It is even more common in women. Toting around a bag that is too heavy can lead to swelling, and pain in the neck and shoulders. If a bag is crucial, then eliminate all but the essential items and leave it behind when you don’t need to access the contents.
Never wear high heels. Women who suffer from arthritis should stay far away from these shoes, as they put extra stress on the ankles and knees. Wearing these can actually cause tears in the tendons surrounding joints, which will only worsen any inflammation and pain that already exists in the area.
Have sturdy footwear that is meant for the activity you are performing. Different shoes are necessary for normal wear and exercise, because you are putting strain on different joints for each action. Having great shoes meant for each activity will decrease any chance of injury or irritation, as well as making sure to increase flexibility.
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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