Feel Better Today With Arthritis Tips That Calm Your Mind
It's hard to understand how painful arthritis can be unless you've had to live with it. Hopefully, doctors will develop a cure, but in the meantime, you should do what you can to manage the day to day pain. This article will give you some important advice on how to reduce the pain of arthritis.
When dealing with arthritis pain you have to protect your joints. Always be thinking about your joints and your joint health and protect them from injury. So be careful; instead of lifting a heavy object, slide it, or use your shoulder to open a door instead of using your hand.
There is no harm in admitting you can't do something because of your arthritic condition. So, don't be ashamed to ask family and friends to help you out. Being honest about your limitations, and thereby getting the necessary assistance, can actually prolong your ability to function at a high level.
Lose weight! Excess weight can mean more pain for you. The weight can also contribute to and aggravate osteoarthritis, while increasing your risk of gout. Losing your extra pounds will have you looking and feeling better. Losing those extra pounds will also relieve the stress on your knees and hips.
If you're not getting enough sleep at night, plan for a long nap in the afternoon. Sometimes arthritis pain can keep you from laying in a bed for longer than a few hours, so instead break up your eight hour sleep into manageable chunks throughout the day to keep your body and mind in tip-top shape.
Try acupuncture. While many people believe this method does not really work, studies have shown that using it can actually release pain relieving endorphins. This can work wonders for arthritis sufferers by targeting painful inflammation and swelling points in the joint, and sending these relieving chemicals to the area to trigger immediate relief.
Thinking positive thoughts can help you to cope with arthritis pain. It might sound silly, but a strong mind/body connection does exist. If your mind thinks positive, it is difficult for your body to feel negative. Fill your life with happiness and you might just find that your pain quickly diminishes.
Set goals for yourself. Planning out what you want to do for the day or week ahead can help to motivate you into actually getting it done. You should even speak to your doctor about what you want to accomplish within the next few months or year, in order to work out a plan that will help you do it.
Never wear high heels. Women who suffer from arthritis should stay far away from these shoes, as they put extra stress on the ankles and knees. Wearing these can actually cause tears in the tendons surrounding joints, which will only worsen any inflammation and pain that already exists in the area.
Unfortunately, there's nothing that will completely eliminate the pain of arthritis. However, you may be surprised at how much some of these tips can help. Try the advice in this article, and see what works for you. It's not the solution arthritis sufferers are looking for, but it's a great bandage.