Arthritis is that painful swelling and stiffness in the joints and is also, an irritating reminder of the inevitable aging process. It strikes many and is often unavoidable. “Unavoidable” is hardly the same thing as “untreatable,” though. There are plenty of ways to make arthritis easier to live with. This article has some tips to help any arthritis sufferer.
It is important that you have enough calcium in your diet if you suffer from arthritis. Medical research has proven that inflammatory arthritis conditions are worse if a person does not have enough calcium in their diet. You can find calcium in many different foods, including milk, cheese, and ice cream.
Don’t give up on finding a way to manage your arthritis pain. Dealing with a debilitating condition can leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless – particularly if you are having trouble finding any treatment options that work. If what you are doing is not working, talk to your doctor about other treatment options or explore alternative treatments such as acupuncture, nutrition or holistic medicine until you find something that helps.
Eat plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids to help combat inflammation. Recent studies have shown that Omega-3 fatty acids can help to reduce inflammation for arthritis sufferers. Food sources that are high in Omega-3s include fish, walnuts, and flaxseed. Better yet, try adding cod liver oil to your diet. Not only is it rich in Omega-3s, but it also has been shown to help significantly reduce arthritis pain.
When used with a combination of medicines and other treatments, hypnosis has been proven to help with arthritis. Although doctors are not sure why, patient studies have shown that hypnosis can ease arthritis pain in up to 75% of patients. It is recommended that patients have three rounds of hypnotherapy for the most effective results.
Take a nap. Leading a sedentary lifestyle is not a healthy move for anyone, but arthritis sufferers will often be hit by bouts of fatigue. In these cases, take a short nap to give your body the rest it needs, and you will find yourself more easily able to complete your everyday tasks.
Even a moderate amount of weight loss can improve your arthritis symptoms. An excessive amount of weight places unnecessary pressure on your joints causing them to become swollen and inflamed. When a person weighs too much it can cause the joints to have flare ups because they are under a lot of pressure. 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.
Keep others informed. Tell them about arthritis and what effect it has on your life. Arthritis can make you cranky, frustrated, anxious and sometimes act like a different person. Others should be informed about this so they aren’t confused when it happens. Try helping yourself and them become aware of what you’re struggling with so that they can support you.
Watch your knees. Your knees absorb at least three times the impact of any other joint on your body, so they need extra care. Always make sure to use pads when kneeling and try to flex them often. Sitting cross-legged for too long can also cause issues, so you should stretch them out on a regular basis.
When trying to separate egg whites, use this tip to help avoid the repetitive stress of moving the egg back and forth. Place a funnel over a glass and crack the egg into the funnel. The whites of the egg will slide right into the glass while the funnel will catch and separate the egg yolk.
When you are thinking about looking into herbal treatments to help you treat your arthritis symptoms, keep in mind that herbal remedies are not regulated by the FDA. You should always seek the advice of your physician and/or a skilled and experienced herbalist when considering the use of herbal remedies.
Sometimes people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis find it beneficial to get involved in an active community of other people who also have the condition. Even if you just read blogs and articles written by others who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, you will feel less isolated and feel more empowered with the knowledge.
Beating the fatigue associated with rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy, but there are ways to keep it under control. For example, stick to a schedule every day – even on the weekend – as to when you go to bed and when you get up in the morning. This will help insure you get a good night’s sleep every day.
Getting 8 hours of sleep a night is great, but it won’t help if you’re not getting a sound sleep. Arthritis may bother you while you’re in bed, so why not check out some of the items available to help you get and stay comfortable over night? You may also adjust pain medications to cope with your joint troubles.
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.
Discussion about this post