Living Well With Arthritis
Arthritis can be quite a debilitating condition: it painfully limits the patient's movements, and consequently their lives.
So how can arthritis patients try and cope on day to day basis and attempt to live well with their disease? Here we suggest a threefold plan that is sure to help any arthritis patient.
1.
There has been a lot of talk some the over-the-counter and natural supplements.
Many cartilage-protective preparations contain Chondroitin, and Glucosamine.
The manufacturers claim that they rebuild the articular cartilage.
The researchers found that some arthritis patients do experience some improvement of their symptoms when they are given these products.
It is definitely worth a try.
They are also safe, natural, and have very few side-effects.
Another helpful substance is fish oil/Omega-3 fatty acids which have been found to be beneficial in arthritis.
You can buy these as supplements, or you can eat more Omega-3 fish.
2.
Local pain-relieving and mobility enhancing methods: warmth applied to affected joints sometimes enhances mobility.
You can either use hot paraffin wax, or hot water compresses.
Whenever the pain is severe, you can apply analgesic creams (such as diclofenac or methy salicylate cream) to the affected joints.
3.
Lifestyle modifications: if you are even slightly over-weight, you are putting an extra load on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knee.
Even a modest weight reduction can work miracles for osteoarthritis.
Also, contrary to popular belief, a carefully designed, gentle, exercise program seems to help many patients improve their range of motion, and strengthen their muscles which improves joint mechanics.
You will have to see a professional physical therapist or chiropractor and ask them whether they have extensive experience with arthritis patients.
Finally, it is imperative that you go see your doctor if the symptoms persist.
Self-prescribed, over-the-counter pain killers, will only aggravate the problem and might convert you from a regular arthritis patient to an arthritis-patient-with-an-ulcer!
So how can arthritis patients try and cope on day to day basis and attempt to live well with their disease? Here we suggest a threefold plan that is sure to help any arthritis patient.
1.
There has been a lot of talk some the over-the-counter and natural supplements.
Many cartilage-protective preparations contain Chondroitin, and Glucosamine.
The manufacturers claim that they rebuild the articular cartilage.
The researchers found that some arthritis patients do experience some improvement of their symptoms when they are given these products.
It is definitely worth a try.
They are also safe, natural, and have very few side-effects.
Another helpful substance is fish oil/Omega-3 fatty acids which have been found to be beneficial in arthritis.
You can buy these as supplements, or you can eat more Omega-3 fish.
2.
Local pain-relieving and mobility enhancing methods: warmth applied to affected joints sometimes enhances mobility.
You can either use hot paraffin wax, or hot water compresses.
Whenever the pain is severe, you can apply analgesic creams (such as diclofenac or methy salicylate cream) to the affected joints.
3.
Lifestyle modifications: if you are even slightly over-weight, you are putting an extra load on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knee.
Even a modest weight reduction can work miracles for osteoarthritis.
Also, contrary to popular belief, a carefully designed, gentle, exercise program seems to help many patients improve their range of motion, and strengthen their muscles which improves joint mechanics.
You will have to see a professional physical therapist or chiropractor and ask them whether they have extensive experience with arthritis patients.
Finally, it is imperative that you go see your doctor if the symptoms persist.
Self-prescribed, over-the-counter pain killers, will only aggravate the problem and might convert you from a regular arthritis patient to an arthritis-patient-with-an-ulcer!
