Better Living With Arthritis

If you or your loved ones are living with arthritis then you are not alone! There are more than 40 million Americans suffering from arthritis right now. Arthritis comes in many forms affecting the various joints including your knees, hips, shoulders, fingers, etc. With over 100 different types of arthritis, it can be important to ensure the arthritis is correctly diagnosed in order to get the best results.

Arthritis can cause ordinary tasks to become incredibly difficult due to the swelling and pain associated with movement. Certain forms of arthritis can also affect the heart, lungs, eyes, etc. making it even more important for regular visits to your primary care. Because there is no cure for arthritis, many individuals get frustrated with pain and swelling, but there are ways to reduce flare-ups and reduce inflammation.

The first step to take towards managing and living a better life with arthritis is to have regular doctor's appointments noting your pains and discomforts. MDs can provide many different treatment options for the aches and pains that come along with inflammation or swelling of your joints.

Getting Ahead of the Issues

The next step of arthritis management is regular exercise. A regular exercise routine is essential in order to prevent joint destruction and maintain current functions. The many benefits of regular exercise can also be found here. But essentially, the key is to keep your body moving and active, as certain types of arthritis (including rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis) can leave permanent deformities.

Individuals with all forms of arthritis often avoid regular exercise due to fear of pain, however regular exercise is key in overall joint health. Seek out an occupational therapist or physical therapist (upper body joint and lower body joint, respectively) who can involve modalities and different forms of exercise with treatment options to reduce pain and inflammation at the joints. Talking with your doctor will often lead to a prescription for visits with a therapist to assist in pain reduction and learning a list of regular exercises to aide in pain relief. Insurance coverage varies for frequency and number of visits, but don't be afraid to call your insurance company if you need further treatment.

It is important to complete regular stretching and exercises daily. Since there is no cure for arthritis, eventually joint destruction may occur, therefore it is best to incorporate regular exercises into your daily routine as soon as possible. Even incorporating simple exercises can provide increase in range of motion and strengthening of the muscles around the joints to prevent inflammation and ultimately pain.

Exercise also contributes to weight loss which can be a huge factor in significant joint pain of the hips or knees due to the joint having to support excessive weight. I know, I know, it sounds like we're focusing a lot on exercise, but honestly it plays a huge part in overall health.

For individuals with arthritis in the hand (as well as rheumatoid arthritis or forms of psoriatic arthriris) it may be beneficial to use compression gloves to offer pain relief and comfort when the joints become inflamed. Compression gloves can be purchased relatively inexpensively and used as tolerated or as the individual finds comfort or relief.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Certain foods have anti-inflammatory effects and have been found to also reduce risk of infection. Chronic inflammation has also been linked to diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes to name a few. Therefore lowering your chronic inflammation can in turn have positive health benefits in addition to decreased pain. The anti-inflammatory diet is a fairly simple concept, cut out foods that increase inflammation and increase foods that reduce inflammation.

Treatment Options

Most treatment options for the many forms of arthritis involve differing medications that focus on pain relief and reduced inflammation. These medications vary from over the counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) to medicines simply focused on pain relief, such as tramadol or acetaminophen. Although we are typically more focused on the pain from arthritis as it can limit activities, what you should also be thinking about, is the actual underlying issue with arthritis, which is the inflammation. Simply addressing the pain is not enough.

Other ways to reduce inflammation include cold packs, for when the joint is most inflamed, but the use of heat can also aid in keeping the joints loose and mobile. Having a compress pack that can handle both hot and cold is the most beneficial item to have for joint pain and inflammation. You can find them all over the internet, at drug stores and some grocery stores, but our personal favorite can be found here. It comes with two gel packs that can be used for both hot and cold as well as a wrap to attach it to the affected area.

Another option is adding more turmeric to your diet. Turmeric has been used for arthritis for many years due to its anti-inflammatory properties derived from curcumin which is found in turmeric. If taking turmeric in capsule form the Arthritis Foundation suggests 400mg to 600mg 3x a day.

Last Resort

In some cases the joint is too damaged to be repaired and other options need to be considered. Sometimes, the joint can be surgically repaired or adjusted through a small incision for a minor surgery. Other times, the joint is far too damaged to be saved and must be replaced. Replacements are most commonly performed on larger joints like hips and knees, but in some specific cases can be performed on shoulders and elbows. When making decisions on joint replacement, be sure you've attempted many other alternatives prior to surgery, as joint replacement does not guarantee decreased pain. Although many people do find relief after joint replacement, it is not guaranteed and is not an option for everyone.

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