For who has arthritis may know how it can be painful and
limiting. They have experienced one of
those forms or different. Basic treatments
of arthritis are medications, yoga, exercise,
diet, and lifestyle improvement. Even
sleeping habits and mood changes can affect arthritis. There is no direct correlation between how
severe your arthritis is and how much pain you feel. So how do people deal with this disease?
There are several ways to lessen how much pain you have when
your arthritis acts up. Some are preventative. One way is to lose weight. Extra pounds add stress to your joints. Eat a healthy diet. Not only will that help you keep those extra
pounds off, but there are certain vitamins that specifically help
arthritis. Vitamin C repairs tissue,
vitamin D absorbs calcium, builds bone mass, and prevents bone loss, and
calcium strengthens your bones. Moderate
exercising strengthens your joints and increases flexibility and
stability. Those with rheumatoid
arthritis need to refrain from exercising during flare ups. You should only exercise to the point where
you feel mild discomfort. You should not
feel pain. Get plenty of sleep. Patients with arthritis should get 8 to 10
hours of sleep.
When your arthritis does flare up there are different
treatments to help with the pain and inflammation. One common treatment is use of
medication. Certain types of medications
can have serious side effects, so you need to weigh the pros and cons with your
doctor. Ice packs can help with swelling
and inflammation, but people with circulatory problems should avoid this. You can also use a heating pad or take a hot
bath or shower. Patients with arthritis
may sometimes use splints, braces, canes, or walkers for stability.
There are adjustments you can make in your home to ease your
arthritis too. A “grabber” can help you
get a can out of the cupboard or pick up laundry off the floor. Replace faucet handles that twist and round
door knobs with levered handles. Don’t
overdo it. Tiring yourself out can
especially provoke flare ups for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Take breaks and don’t feel like you have to
do everything in one day.
If you are in a situation where you don’t move around a lot,
it could affect your arthritis also.
Sitting at a computer desk for 8 hours a day can stiffen you up. Be sure to take a break to move around and do
stretches. If available, use a trackball
instead of a mouse and a split keyboard.
If you have the right software you can use “macros” to store frequently
used words and phrases. This will save
on your typing. Again, take it
easy. You don’t want your arthritis to
flare up from overextending yourself.
So many ways that you can do to prevent or reduce an
arthritis burst up. The main thing is to
do your part. It is equally as important
to check back with your doctor for advice as well. Don’t
be terrified to ask for help and always check with your local Arthritis
Foundation to see what information is available to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment