When cartilage between bones gradually deteriorates, arthritis occurs. Bones can grind together when cartilage disappears, and this results in inflammation, swelling, and pain. This article has many tips and techniques you can use to help stop the deterioration from progressing further and ease your symptoms.
Use good posture to help our joints remain strong. This can help to lessen the amount of arthritis pain. Try to sit up straight and stand straight to maintain good posture. Both legs should be evenly supporting your weight. Your spine and joints will feel stronger and your arthritis symptoms might soon diminish.
The use of heating pads and ice packs has been shown to help alleviate some arthritic joint pain. For best results, alternate using cold and heat. Before using the heat/cold method, get advice from your doctor about exactly what to do.
Taking a long warm bath before bed is a great way to help you to sleep easier, and can also alleviate some of the pain. This will allow your body to relax, and the pain from arthritis will lessen, which will help you go to sleep, and stay sleeping for a longer period of time.
Just sit back in a chair, close your eyes, and do some deep breathing. This may help you forget about your pain so that you can start thinking happily again.
Apply alternating heat and cold treatments. Joints can be easily overworked, and using hot packs, followed by cold ones, can reduce any inflammation and swelling that may crop up. Too much heating or icing can cause problems, though, so don’t use them too much. Refrain from applying these treatments more than two times daily.
If you have already exhausted numerous arthritis treatment techniques and none of them have proven to be effective, you could consider asking your doctor about the possibility of obtaining joint surgery. Research has shown that this surgery is very effective, and it will help to undo the problems that arthritis has done to the flexibility in your joints.
Pain killers should be used only if you absolutely have to. Prescription pain pills may create an addiction, and their help is only short-term. Take any prescription medication exactly as directed by your physician.
Don’t allow yourself or others to get you down. You are put in uncomfortable situations when performing a variety of activities while having arthritis. Arthritis isn’t your fault, so never feel guilty or responsible for the limitations that it causes. Quitting tasks you used to be able to do is not a reason to be down on yourself.
Let your doctor check for deficiencies. Your arthritis is likely to get worse if your body is running short of vital nutrients like B-12 and others. These levels can be checked to stave off inflammation if you know where you are lacking.
If you’re overweight, drop some pounds. If you are an arthritis suffer, the excess weight you carry can make your joints inflamed and swell, which is quite painful. Your joints are put under much more pressure when you are carrying extra weight. This added stress on the joints can cause you to have more frequent flare ups. If you were to lose weight, though, you could greatly reduce the inflammation. This is yet another reason to finally ditch those extra pounds.
Keep stress to a minimum. Physical pain through arthritis can be caused by high stress levels, such as swelling and inflammation. Look for stress-relieving techniques, use them often whenever necessary to keep your body and mind strong and healthy, no matter the situation you are dealing with.
Arthritis sufferers have a lot of options when it comes to pain, inflammation and swelling reduction. You can use the information here to help yourself find the right treatment for you.