It is a common misconception that one cannot develop rheumatoid arthritis until they are old and have lived a physically demanding lifestyle. The truth is, RA can begin to appear in nearly anyone that does not practice a healthy routine and take care of the joints they use on a daily basis.
Watch out for co-morbid condition, especially depression. Arthritis and depression can lock you into a feedback loop: you're tired and in pain, so you can't do the things you love, which makes you more upset. Being upset then leads to symptom flare-ups. If you think you are depressed, speak with your doctor about a referral to a psychiatrist.
Stay away from heating pads if your arthritis is flaring up. All they are going to do is make your symptoms worse. Instead, apply a cold compress to the area where your arthritis is located. You could even wrap a package of frozen peas or another frozen vegetable in a towel and apply to the area.
Do the proper kind of exercise. In addition to maintaining your flexibility, regular exercise ensures that your body stays in a healthy state. Performing low impact exercises will prevent inflammation of your joints, but make sure you never overdo it. If anything is painful, stop immediately.
Exercise is one of the best medicines for arthritis. It is a great help in reducing pain and stiffness in your joints. It will increase your flexibility and the strength of your muscles which will help your body avoid further injury. Make sure to make time every day for exercise and you will see the benefits.
Take a warm morning shower. Many people who suffer from arthritis have the stiffest joints when they wake up. Starting your day off with a warm shower will loosen your joints enough that you should be able to stretch them, which will help to prevent any stiffness you may experience later in the day.
Use musical therapy in order to ease the pain when you are suffering from severe inflammation. While it isn't a permanent fix and is far from medication and serious pain relief, there are studies that have proven classical music and other soothing types of music to be therapeutic when treating pain from arthritis.
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.
Take your medication like you are supposed to. Many arthritis sufferers will only take their medication if they are in pain, and forget it later. This is detrimental to your body, because you are actually trying to prevent these attacks from happening. Set a daily reminder, and take your medication on a strict schedule.
For arthritis pain try using hot and cold treatments to help. Apply heat to the area with a heating pad or try chilling out with an ice pack or ice water to help soothe your joints. Alternating hot and cold can help provide some powerful pain relief as well.
Exercise as often as possible. Not only does exercising provide you with the energy that you need to get through the day, it also helps with joint pain. In particular, walking, cycling and swimming can be beneficial, but make sure to speak with your doctor before you start any new exercise program.
Try eating foods that have omega-three acids which can fight inflammation. Salmon and other fish can be high in these acids and is a natural way to fight inflammation. Inflammation is the greatest cause of pain from arthritis and when your body has natural substances to use such as omega-three, it can work against the inflammation while you are eating nutritiously.
If you suffer from arthritis, do your best to use diet and moderate exercise to lose any unnecessary weight you are carrying. Excess weight puts more stress on bones and joints and causes them to wear out more quickly. Losing weight will not only lessen the stress on your back, hips and knees, but also make it easier to engage in more physical exercise.
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, always pay attention to what you are eating. Some foods can actually cause arthritis pain in some people. Try using an elimination diet. Remove problem foods from your diet and slowly add them back over time. Dairy and seafood are known to cause allergic reactions which trigger arthritis symptoms.
Rheumatoid arthritis may be able to effect nearly anyone, but it can also be fought by those same people. All it takes is a determined spirit and some simple guidelines, such as those mentioned above. Take them to heart and watch each day as life gets just a little bit better.
Orignal From: Getting A Handle On Our Arthritis Symptoms
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