Proven Tips For Dealing With Your Arthritis
Proven Tips For Dealing With Your Arthritis
It's hard to understand how painful arthritis can be unless you've had to live with it. Hopefully, doctors will develop a cure, but in the meantime, you should do what you can to manage the day to day pain. This article will give you some important advice on how to reduce the pain of arthritis.
Make sure you are getting enough sleep. The stiffness and pain that is common in arthritis can lead to debilitating fatigue, and many of the treatments for the condition can also cause fatigue. Do what you can to ensure a good night's sleep every night, and you'll feel better and be healthier.
Consider joining an arthritis support group. Friends and family members who don't suffer from arthritis may have a hard time understanding exactly what you are going through and how much it affects your life. Connecting with other arthritis sufferers in a supportive environment can make it easier to cope with the chronic , day to day pain and other difficulties associated with the disease.
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.
Lose weight to help reduce your arthritis symptoms. Losing even a few pounds has been shown to take pressure off of weight bearing joints and reduce the pain that you suffer with arthritis. It can also help reduce your risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee and can slow the rate in which your arthritis progresses.
Use light exercises and stretching to prevent further joint damage and pain from arthritis. light exercise avoids excess strain on the joints and you will find that it creates more limber and flexible joints that are conditioned for healthier activity. With stretching, you are giving yourself more flexibility for common activities you will encounter without causing pain from inflamed joints.
Purchase an ergonomic knife that is designed to help you cut and slice with ease without putting a strain on your joints. These knives give you better leverage so that you can use your body weight to do your cutting instead of using your joints in a repetitive fashion.
Try including Mediterranean food in your diet. A study came out several years ago that found that arthritis sufferers who consistently ate Mediterranean fruits, vegetables, cereals and olive oil over a period of three months had better daily functioning that other patients. Since eating more fruits and vegetables is good for your health anyway, it is definitely worth a try.
You must visit your doctor even if your injury is a small one, such as a sprain or twisted ankle, to ensure that you don't develop any side effects like scarring. Ask your doctor to treat the injury properly.
Unfortunately, there's nothing that will completely eliminate the pain of arthritis. However, you may be surprised at how much some of these tips can help. Try the advice in this article, and see what works for you. It's not the solution arthritis sufferers are looking for, but it's a great bandage.