The Bottom Line on Arthritis

Those of you who have arthritis, think you may have it or know someone who does, will have a few more helpful ideas of how to deal with this disabling disease. Here is a brief list of important points:

1. Pay attention to your symptoms, see your doctor and get an accurate diagnosis. Find out if you have arthritis earlier rather than later —the earlier an accurate diagnosis is made and treatment started the better. Early diagnosis can often mean less joint damage and less pain.

2. Protect your joints; if you are having joint pain when performing an activity, stop what you are doing or do it another way that does not cause pain.

3. Stay close to your recommended weight.
 
4. Get moving—exercise helps lessen pain, increase range of movement, reduces fatigue and helps you feel better overall.
 
5. Products are available, such as: jar openers, sock puller and buttoner that are easy to use and make small activities doable again. Talk with your doctor, physical therapist, pharmacist or contact the Arthritis Foundation, www.arthritis.org or call 800-568-4045, about free information.
 
6. Take your medication just as your doctor prescribes. If you are tempted to stop because you feel it is not working or you believe it is causing side effects, call your doctor first. It can take weeks or months for the full benefits of a medication to become apparent and some side effects to ease over time.
 
7. Finally, face facts, learn something new about arthritis. Build an understanding of your disease. The more you know about arthritis, the more empowered you will be to help yourself or someone you care about.

Pain: A Key Issue with Arthritis

Not surprisingly, people with arthritis can have chronic pain in their feet, knees, hips, back, shoulders and elbows. This pain can lead to poor quality of sleep. Poor quality of sleep can lead to tension and more pain and so on and so on. One way to reduce joint pain and support refreshing sleep is to soak in a warm bath before bed. It can relieve muscle tension, ease aching joints and help you get a good night’s sleep. 

If you are waking up every few hours in pain and you are on a medication to relieve pain, you need to call your doctor, because it is not working. Tell him or her when you have pain, what you are doing and how long you have pain after your last pill. Ask your doctor if a different pain medication would work better or if you should change the time or the amount that you take. You may want to keep a pain and sleep journal for just a few days or a week to give the doctor and you more information. What this means is that you write down every day how you slept, when you had pain and what you did to make it go away. You’ll also want to include any ideas you have about what seemed to cause the pain or poor quality of sleep.

An important point about managing your pain is knowing what medications you are on. If you are on a medication for pain, be sure that you are taking the medication as instructed by your doctor. Also, consider taking your prescribed pain medication before you get out of bed in the morning if your pain is worse at this time. Give yourself an extra half hour to allow your pain medication a chance to work before getting up. Keep water and crackers next to your bed if pain medication bothers your stomach.

Pain relief through massage in another way to relieve your Arthritis. Treat your muscles to a gentle massage from a certified massage therapist. The therapist’s gentle movements will help mobilize muscles, ligaments and joints that have been used infrequently. Results vary from person to person but may include decreased pain and increased circulation, energy and flexibility. You should check with your doctor before beginning regular massages.
 
The use of heat or cold treatments can be used to manage pain that is localized to one area of your body. Be very careful to follow your doctor’s directions in the type, amount and length of time for any applications of heat or cold. Heating pads, ice packets and products you can purchase without a prescription at the drug store can cause injury if not used properly, so be sure to get guidance on the use of heat or cold from your doctor. 

Also, look at your wardrobe; do your shoes fit; are they comfortable to your toes, heels and bunions? A well padded, well fitting shoe with plenty of room for your toes and their imperfections can make a world of difference in the way your arthritic feet (and the rest of you) feel.