Ask your doctor about any changes you want to make. Sometimes a medication might take awhile to work, other times stopping a medication suddenly might make your symptoms worse. This is why you must talk to your doctor first.
If you suffer the effects of arthritis, a great place to start for treatment is meditation or yoga. These techniques have been proven to help your body relax, and reduce your arthritis symptoms. For these techniques to be effective, practice them three to four times per week.
Try taking warm baths with bath salts before going to sleep if you have arthritis. You can fall asleep faster and stay asleep better if you have done this method, which will ease arthritis pain.
Learn as much as possible about arthritis so that you can have an active role when it comes to managing your disease. There is a vast library of information available to those with arthritis which gives information on managing pain, effective exercises and dietary do's and don'ts. The more you study arthritis, the greater understanding you will have. This will give you a good chance at finding just the right combination of remedies to ease your pain.
Cigarettes can increase the damage done by arthritis. Giving up smoking for good may be very difficult, but when you see how much it exacerbates your arthritis symptoms, the trade-off may be worth it.
Make an appointment to go to therapy. Many people with arthritis feel very alone; therapy can help to remember that you aren't helpless. People with arthritis are also at risk for developing depression and anxiety, and individual or group therapy can help you to deal with any concerns you may have.
Do not allow yourself to start to feel bad, or let others make you feel this way. You may not feel confident doing certain things if you have arthritis. If you allow yourself to feel pressured or guilty, you will be making the situation worse. Instead, remind yourself that this is in no way your fault, and stay positive. Don't get after yourself for giving up tasks.
Maintain enough protein in your diet. Protein is very important for arthritis sufferers because you need more than most people do. Vegetarians need to work a little harder to get enough protein in their diet.
Set up a timer. If you need to get some chores done, have a timer set to five or ten minutes to remind yourself when to take a break. A lot of people will just work right through the pain of arthritis in order to accomplish things quickly, but this can have a very negative affect on your physical well being.
Don't carry that much with you. It is documented that arthritic conditions are prevalent in the shoulder areas, particularly for females. Large or heavy shoulder bags, such as a purse or laptop bag, can cause pain and inflammation in your shoulder and neck. If you must carry a bag, make it a light one, with only the most necessary items, and try to carry it as little as possible.
If your arthritis is causing you pain and swelling, you should cut back or quit smoking. Medical study evidence shows that smokers experience more pain from arthritis and swollen joints than non-smokers. If you are a smoker, it may be time to give quitting a try. If quitting on your own has proven to be too difficult, it might be time to talk to your doctor. There are new medications available that can help you break the habit for good.
It is important that you take a pro-active stance in creating your arthritis therapy program. There are so many varieties of arthritis and no two sufferers are the same. The differences between patients means that it's important to personalize your treatment plan. It is important to be educated on what types of treatment are available, and knowledgeable enough to know which ones are right for you.
Using nutritional supplements or eating foods with high omega-3 fatty acid levels, will help with your arthritis. You can buy Omega-3 fatty acids in a supplement form or you can just eat foods that contain a good amount of it such as fish, flax or nuts. These fatty acids will decrease inflammation and add lubrication to the joints, resulting in decreased pain from arthritic conditions.
Try a variety of pain relief methods to see which one has the best effect on your arthritis. By applying these tips, you will be able to find relief from your pain. Educating yourself with the information from this article and other sources is the best way to learn to live with arthritis.
