The Pain Of Arthritis And How To Deal With It

Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints of millions of people. Arthritis can be caused by infection, trauma to joints, or even by old age. The condition leaves suffers with pain and inflammation. If you suffer from arthritis and need help, then read the tips in the following article.

Try different treatments with hot and cold packs to see what works for you. Different patients have different success with hot or cold compresses. Generally, chronic pain responds well to heat, while sudden onset pain responds best to cold packs. Everyone is different, however, and your initial treatment attempts may not bring immediate relief.

Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight causes stress on the joints especially in the knees and hips. This added stress leads to flare-ups of arthritis. This is in addition to the well-known health dangers of being overweight and the detrimental effects it has on your mood and energy levels. Speak with your doctor about a safe weight loss plan.

Exercise

Be sure to get enough exercise and that you are doing the right kinds of exercise. People with arthritis should choose exercises that support and strengthen the joints, such as swimming, instead of exercises that damage them, such as running. Failing to exercise can also increase joint stiffness and pain.

It might seem hard to do but you should exercise often if you have arthritis. Exercise can lubricate the joints and help to prevent the stiffness which causes pain. Exercise to increase your flexibility will increase range of motion which is excellent for those with arthritis.

Use light exercises and stretching to prevent further joint damage and pain from arthritis. light exercise avoids excess strain on the joints and you will find that it creates more limber and flexible joints that are conditioned for healthier activity. With stretching, you are giving yourself more flexibility for common activities you will encounter without causing pain from inflamed joints.

Yoga can be a huge help in getting arthritic joints moving again and "hot yoga" can provide an intense workout as well as make it easier for some arthritis sufferers to participate. Hot yoga is performed in a studio that is kept at a temperature of 105 degrees with 40% humidity. Movement is slower and many arthritic participants find the heat and humidity beneficial to loosening stiff muscles and joints to help make exercise easier.

Nutrition

Become your own advocate by learning whatever you can about arthritis and its possible treatment and pain management. There are a lot of resources out there for people who have arthritis, you can find a lot of tips about nutrition and managing your pain. The more you know about your body, the more likely you are to find treatments that can relieve your arthritis symptoms.

Dont give up on finding a way to manage your arthritis pain. Dealing with a debilitating condition can leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless - particularly if you are having trouble finding any treatment options that work. If what you are doing is not working, talk to your doctor about other treatment options or explore alternative treatments such as acupuncture, nutrition or holistic medicine until you find something that helps.

Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy life, and arthritis sufferers need to follow a good diet. Your body can benefit tremendously from a diet that is based mainly on legumes, fresh fruits, vegetables and olive oil. This type of diet improves natural bodily functions and boosts vitality. Increased vitality will promote improved energy to exercise and reduce arthritis symptoms.

As stated before, arthritis affects the joints of millions. It is caused by infection in the joints, trauma to the joints, or old age. Arthritis causes the joints to be inflamed and results in the sufferer having great pain. By using the arthritis tips from this article, you can reduce your suffering.