Arthritis is a difficult disease. It eats away at the cartilage in every part of your body, sometimes causing unmanageable pain. This is a very widespread condition as well as a very painful one. Read further for some great tips from those who have struggled with the pain of arthritis first-hand.
Even if you do not smoke cigarettes, you should still avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible. If you are a smoker, now is the perfect time to ditch this unhealthy habit. Nicotine reduces the blood flow to the extremities which can reduce inflammation short term. This reduced blood flow may also cause joint damage, which can make your arthritis more severe than if you didn’t smoke.
If the pain of arthritis is preventing you from getting a good night’s rest, think about switching up your nightly shower for a warm bath with bath salts. This will relax the joints and muscles, and relieve any other pressures of the day. It may not entirely relieve the pain, but it should help you sleep better.
Maintaining a daily diary is a good idea if you have rheumatoid arthritis. A journal will help you determine what triggers acute pain, and which treatments are most effective. It will also help you identify the most successful methods. Discuss the information you gather with your physician, so that he or she can suggest the best treatment options. In other words, there are many ways that an arthritis diary is beneficial.
If you haven’t had any success with the arthritis treatments that you’ve tried, speak with your physician about the possibility of having joint surgery. This kind of surgery helps to reverse the effects that arthritis may have on mobility and flexibility in the joints, and has been proven to be effective in most patients.
You can get a handicap parking pass if you have arthritis. Lots of arthritis sufferers are not aware of this, and they often succumb to parking in regular spaces, which can make things worse for those affected by chronic pain.
You need to switch between hot and cold while you are treating your joints. You may find that alternating treatments will be the best way to overcome aches and pains. Use caution though, because you can cause more problems by over treating your joints. Twice per day is a good area to aim for.
By incorporating these suggestions into your daily life, you may soon see positive results. If arthritis has been holding you back, there are ways to manage and reduce your pain.
