Help for Arthritis Sufferers

Statistics show that more than 46 million Americans have been diagnosed with arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis (OA), which affects nearly 30 million people in the United States. This type of arthritis is a degenerative disease where the cartilage between bones in joints has been eroded and thinned to where there is no longer a sufficient cushion to keep bones from grinding together upon movement. Another type of arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is considered an autoimmune disease, and nearly 1.5 million Americans are estimated to be afflicted. In RA, the immune system causes inflammation inside the lining of he joints.

In both RA and OA, each person has a different experience and is impacted differently. Two people with the same severity of disease can experience completely different quality of life issues depending on their lifestyles and the steps they take to control the outcome of their disease. Most people suffering from arthritis think that there is not much they can do about it. But according to the Arthritis Foundation, there’s no reason to take arthritis symptoms lying down. There are lots of things that can be done to relieve pain and keep your arthritis from getting worse. Making lifestyle modifications can help to decrease inflammation and pain, and may help decrease your reliance on anti-inflammatory medications and prescription painkillers.

Research and consider supplements and vitamins
There are mixed anecdotal accounts related to the effectiveness of supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin for relieving arthritis pain. But these supplements have been shown to slow the effects of cartilage degradation, particularly in OA of the knee. Relief of symptoms can take up to six months, and the most effective daily doses are at least 1500 mg of glucosamine and 800 mg of chondroitin. Vitamin D has been shown to inhibit the enzymes that can break down cartilage, so supplementing your diet with vitamin D may help slow the progression of the disease. Inflammation may also be reduced by a healthy diet that is rich in vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids (found in foods such as salmon, tuna, walnuts, and canola oil).

Get plenty of sleep, treat your body kindly, and stay happy
Be sure to get plenty of good, quality sleep, to improve your energy and reduce pain. You can alter your sensations of pain by applying a cold pack or a heating pad to your joints. Heat dilates the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow to a painful area, which can help relieve early symptoms of arthritis. Cold helps constrict blood vessels, thereby decreasing swelling and inflammation. Acupuncture has proven to be especially helpful for OA of knee joints. Try to keep in contact with family, friends, and your local community even if you are in pain. Stress-relieving techniques such as massage and meditation can help raise your spirits and lessen pain.

Control your weight and get moving
If you’re overweight, a loss of even 10 pounds can substantially reduce arthritis pain, particularly in knees or hips. Aerobic exercise can help with losing weight, and it also improves stamina, muscle strength, and overall conditioning. Exercise can have a surprising anti-inflammatory result because of the endorphins that are released during aerobic activity. Adding 20-30 minutes a day of walking exercises, swimming, biking, or other low-impact exercises can make a dramatic difference in pain. Exercises that increase range of motion and enhance balance, such as tai chi and yoga, can help relieve symptoms and prevent injury to joints.

Use medications wisely
Nonsteroidal medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help lessen the pain and inflammation of OA. However, they can result in stomach ulcers and other ailments if they are overused. The COX-2 inhibitors that reduce inflammation and pain have been linked with increased risk of cardiovascular issues if used continuously. For the most severe arthritis pain, prescription narcotics may be necessary, but they can also be risky because they may be habit-forming or addictive. Current protocols for the management of arthritis call for using the lowest effective dosage of a pain reliever, and for the shortest amount of time possible. Use medications when you need them, in the short term, but for the long term the best approach to managing arthritis pain is with lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, vitamins and supplements, and weight loss.

Because it is a degenerative disease, arthritis usually sneaks up on people and pain and inflammation slowly increase until they become unbearable. But with even minor changes in your lifestyle, your aches and pains can be lessened and managed so that your arthritis pain can be managed and your arthritis will not get worse.