Reducing Arthritis Pain: What Can You Do?

Arthritis causes such pain that we often modify our movements and activity to accommodate it. This, however, can lead to a reduced quality of life and enjoyment. Consider the following tips that may help minimize the pain arthritis imposes on you, enabling you to return to the things you love most in life.

Keep a diet journal. Write down what foods you eat to be able to track back when arthritis flares up. Knowing what does and doesn't work for your body will give you control over pain and regulatory force. Refer to this journal when you visit your physician as well as when you comprise a grocery list. It will give you valuable clues to keeping arthritis manageable.

2. Consider vitamins and supplements. Your body has become deficient in some key elements and you need to refurbish them. Always consult with your doctor first to help narrow down what you are missing and the best and safest ways to get it back. Things like calcium are vital to bone health and will be great tools in your fight against arthritis.

3. Alternate between hot and cold therapeutic remedies. Heat can be really soothing to pain, and cold helps reduce swelling. Invest in a simple heating pad and use if often while on your PC or watching your favorite show. Try convenient ways of icing, such as a bag of frozen peas on your achiest joints. Frozen peas will spread evenly around your knee, ankle or elbow and you just can't beat the clean-up!

4. If deemed necessary, use anti-inflammatory medications. At some point, prescription remedies may be your only choice to minimize the swelling between joints associated with arthritis. Investigate the possibilities, including possible side-effects and interactions with other medications. Follow all instructions exactly to optimize the outcome and report anything out of the ordinary to your doctor's office immediately.

5. Engage in regular exercise, and make stretching an integral part of it. A simple yet strengthening routine will work wonders on your arthritic symptoms and keep your energy levels high. Be sure and stretch first and on the occasions that you are pressed for time or otherwise unable to complete your full routine, at least get these stretches in. Increasing muscle strength and flexibility will ease joint pain and alleviate stiffness considerably.

6. Become an avid reader on the issues that impact you. Advances can come quickly in modern medicine and therapies. Join an online forum for help from others like you who may have learned a trick or two you can benefit from. Have reliable sources of health and wellness topics that can supplement your efforts to fight arthritis and improve your circumstances.

7. Seek assistance when you are in need of it. If you have a project in the home or yard that will go easier with a helping hand, then ask a friend, neighbor or family member to pitch in. You could almost certainly find a kid in the neighborhood who will rake your yard, mow your lawn or spiff up the interior of your home on a regular basis for a few dollars. Without compromise to your freedom or privacy, get whatever help you may need and have regular resources you can call upon.

Hopefully, this article has provided you with some valuable advice that will help to lower the amount of pain you experience from your arthritis. Living life on your terms is half the battle and you should do everything within your power to take control from arthritis and get back to enjoying life.