Arthritis is that painful swelling and stiffness in the joints and is also, an irritating reminder of the inevitable aging process. It strikes many and is often unavoidable. "Unavoidable" is hardly the same thing as "untreatable," though. There are plenty of ways to make arthritis easier to live with. This article has some tips to help any arthritis sufferer.
If you have arthritis, try reducing your caffeine intake. Some people are extremely sensitive to arthritis. In those individuals, reducing the consumption of caffeine can have a positive effect on arthritis symptoms. Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume gradually to best gauge if your results will be positive ones.
Temperature changes from heating pads and ice packs can help fight joint pain. Try taking turns between the hot and the cold to receive the most optimal relief. Discuss this with your doctor to see if they have additional recommendations.
It can be very beneficial if you catch your arthritis early. One way to prevent the onset of arthritis is to use good typing habits. Keep your hands at the same level as the keyboard, and always use your mouse on a pad. This will help you keep strong hands and you will still be able to type.
Do not stop a medication just because you feel it is not working. Most arthritis medicines take from days to months to truly make an impact on your symptoms. Never stop a new medicine without talking with your doctor first as there may be side effects from an abrupt withdrawal.
Arthritis and stress flaring up get social. Having arthritis you might be tempted to stay home don't get out and get social. You will feel more relaxed and calmer when you are interacting with other people, when you are relaxed and calm your stress levels and arthritis will stop flaring.
Sleep in a comfortable bed. Arthritis sufferers need to talk to their physicians about purchasing the optimal bed for a person who has their particular condition. Each person has different issues, so an expert evaluation is the best way to match a quality bed with your specific set of symptoms.
Use musical therapy in order to ease the pain when you are suffering from severe inflammation. While it isn't a permanent fix and is far from medication and serious pain relief, there are studies that have proven classical music and other soothing types of music to be therapeutic when treating pain from arthritis.
Take your medication like you are supposed to. Many arthritis sufferers will only take their medication if they are in pain, and forget it later. This is detrimental to your body, because you are actually trying to prevent these attacks from happening. Set a daily reminder, and take your medication on a strict schedule.
Never wear tight bandages to help with arthritis pain. Having a tight bandage actually will cause more pain and issues, because you are effectively reducing blood flow to the area. This will cause more swelling and stiffness when the bandage is eventually removed, and can even cause permanent damage if left on too long.
You should keep a diary in connection with your arthritis diagnosis. If you keep a journal everyday of your activities and pain levels, you can spot trends that will shed some light on what the possible triggers are. By writing down what you've eaten, the activities you've engaged in, and the degree of pain you experience, you'll be able to identify pain triggers.
Many people tend to have bad posture and do all sorts of things that wreak havoc on their bodies. When you have arthritis, it is even more important to pay close attention to things like this. You need to make sure you maintain good posture and the correct positioning of your body.
Try as many different methods as possible to find something that is efficient for you. Rate your pain from 1 to 10 before you start your treatment. When you are done with the treatment, judge again to see how effective you find the new approach.
While it may not be possible to dodge arthritis, it is almost always possible to deal with it. Simple steps, like the ones in this article, can ease arthritis pains and make it easier to put the affliction out of mind. The sufferer bears no responsibility for the onset of arthritis, but he or she can do a lot to minimize its impact.