Dealing With Painful Arthritis - What You Need to Know

Arthritis is a chronic disease that can torment you for a long time and it is the common cause of disability in elderly people. Arthritis means joint inflammation, it is a condition that affects the joints and the tissues that surround the joints resulting to pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints. Dealing with painful arthritis is not easy because this condition can be really disabling and can leave sufferers unable to move or barely function in their everyday lives due to the limited joint movement that they can do.

People of all ages and even children can develop arthritis but it is most common to older people aged 65 years old and above. Those who are still in their working age often find themselves unable to do their job properly or cannot report for work at all if the arthritis pain and swelling are so severe. Dealing with painful arthritis is not only reducing the quality of your life but it can also affect your job.

Millions of people are suffering from arthritis and looking for ways to get rid of the pain and discomfort brought by this disabling condition. Arthritis can be treated and managed; the following tips can be very helpful in dealing with arthritis.

Consult your doctor. Doctors can diagnose arthritis through your medical history and physical examination. Blood tests may also be performed to know the causes and to evaluate if you have any other medical issues. It is important to be diagnosed and treated as early as possible because early intervention can be very helpful to prevent your condition from getting worse. Medications can slow down the progress of arthritis and reduce inflammation as well as relieve the pain. Physical therapy maybe recommended by your doctor to keep the affected joints in shape and prevent disability. For severe cases, surgery maybe recommend by your doctor. People who have arthritis may also suffer from depression and it is best to talk to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of depression to address the problem properly. In dealing with painful arthritis, do not hesitate to seek professional help because early medical intervention can make your condition better.

Weight control. Dealing with painful arthritis is easier if you maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can worsen arthritis because too much weight can put too much pressure or stress on the joints especially on the hips and knees. So to reduce your risk of having arthritis attack; you have to maintain a healthy weight. Cutting calories and fatty foods and eating a healthy diet can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Maintain a physically active life. A sedentary life can only worsen your arthritis and it can be really beneficial for people suffering from arthritis to be physically active. But you have to be careful in choosing the physical activities that you will engage yourself into and prevent further damage to your joints. High impact physical activities like running and jumping must be avoided. Activities like stretching, walking, cycling, swimming and low impact aerobics can help reduce the pain, increase your range of movement and improve your condition but it best to consult your doctor or therapist first to know the exercises or physical activities that are good for arthritis.

Eat the right kind of food. Your diet plays an important role if you are dealing with painful arthritis. Some people with arthritis have food sensitivities so you need to take note if there are foods that make your symptoms get worse and you have to avoid them. It is best to keep a journal of foods that are good and not good for you so that you can plan your diet and at the same time manage your arthritis.

Arthritis can be managed and treated to avoid disability and improve the quality of your life.