What Types Of Climates Are Best For Arthritis Sufferers
Unlike rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by joint pain that can go into remission, osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis that is ever present. Joints are swollen, stiff, and painful, easing perhaps with activity but chronic and progressive without treatment.
For most arthritis sufferers, the best places to live with arthritis have climates that are warm and dry. While it may sound like an old wives tale that a person can predict the rain with an ache in their knee, it could actually be accurate. Cold, damp climates cause the tissues in the body to expand. This expansion can place more pressure on the nerves in the joints, causing an increase in pain as a storm heads in.
People may be less likely to exercise when the weather outside is frightful, as well, and this can also lead to an increase in painful symptoms.
On the other hand, warm, dry climates with a relatively stable high barometric pressure may ease the stress on joints. This means that people with arthritis may have fewer painful episodes than those who live with dramatic, cold, and wet weather.
Say Goodbye To The Pains That Control Your Life
Are you living with arthritis? If so, youre not alone.
There are many important steps that people dealing with this condition can take to relieve their stiff and aching joints. Physiotherapy is one of them! Its a great way to create an effective plan to ease pain while remaining active.
Arthritis can affect anyone at any age and can become downright debilitating for those who suffer from it.
If you want to kick your arthritis pain to the curb, and find out how a physiotherapy program can lessen or even eliminate your pain!
Stop Withholding Info From Your Healthcare Provider
It’s tempting not to tell your healthcare provider everything, especially if you’re afraid you’ll have to go through unpleasant testing or have to change the treatment regimen you’re comfortable with.
But in order for your healthcare provider to have the best chance of helping you, he needs to know everything. Talk openly about what makes your condition better or worse, what concerns you have, and what you don’t understand.
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Is Coffee Good For Arthritis
Coffee could potentially benefit people with rheumatoid arthritis because of the anti-inflammatory properties of coffee. 5 Reducing inflammation in the body could help reduce joint pain. Also, the stimulating effects of caffeine help to fight physical and mental fatigue that is common with rheumatoid arthritis.
Use Pump Containers Instead Of Squeeze Bottles
Is your shampoo contained in a tube or squeeze bottle? Holding and squeezing a wet, slippery bottle puts stress on the hand joints, especially the joint at the base of the thumb . Switch to a pump container that you can press with your palm. Of course, this same advice applies to conditioner, soap, and other product containers.
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Making Daily Activities Easier
Cooking and cleanup
- Plan meals ahead to lessen last-minute tasks.
- Use electric appliances such as can openers, mixers, crock pots, microwave ovens, and dishwashers to get the job done with less energy and stress on your joints.
- Place a mixing bowl in the sink while stirring. A damp cloth underneath will help keep it from slipping. Hold the mixing spoon like a dagger to take stress off your hands.
- Hammer rustproof nails through a cutting board to secure vegetables while cutting.
- Use a French chef’s knife which keeps hands in good position for cutting slicing and chopping.
- Use disposable aluminum baking pans for easier cleanup.
- Spray a non-stick product on pans or line with foil before baking or frying. Use lightweight baking dishes, plates, pots, and pans and serve from them. Use a wheeled cart to move heavy items from place to place. Sit on a high stool while cooking or washing dishes. Store appliances within easy reach. Use long-handled reachers.
Laundry and housecleaning
In the bathroom
In the bedroom
- Keep files and supplies within easy reach.
- Use vertical files on your desk for current work.
- Install work assist arms or wrist rests at your keyboard.
- Use a glare screen and paper holder on your monitor.
- Use lateral file cabinets for easier access.
Leisure
Car care
Lose Just Five Pounds
I didnt realize how much my weight was hurting my knees until I lost some weight. My doctor put me on methotrexate and it made my stomach hurt all the time so I never wanted to eat. I hated those pills but I lost 10 pounds in a month. It wasnt a ton of weight but I immediately noticed how much easier it was to walk now. My back hurts much less too. Its not about looking skinny trust me, Im far from skinny but the improvement in my mobility is amazing. I just joined Weight Watchers to try and lose 30 more pounds. Mary S., 55, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease
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Besmon Electric Jar Opener
Trying to crank open a jar of tomato sauce or a can of beans can be trying for someone without arthritis. Add in the pain and swelling associated with the condition and it can be uncomfortable if not impossible. “An automatic jar opener does it for you, so you don’t have to crank and place so much pressure on potentially hurting joints,” says Rodgers.
Within three seconds, this electric jar opener opens even the toughest and most stubborn containers. It’s battery operated, too, so you don’t have to worry about setting it up to charge.
Buy it: Price: $29.99
Stop Thinking You Can’t Exercise
Many people who have arthritis are afraid if they’re active they’ll have more pain and so they just don’t get any exercise. This may be one of the biggest misconceptions about arthritis.
At the same time, it’s an ironic idea because inactivity actually makes pain and disability from arthritis worse over time, while regular exercise keeps joints moving and prevents stiffness, strengthens the muscles around the joints, and improves mobility.
So if you’ve been sedentary out of fear you’ll make your arthritis worse, talk to your healthcare provider to make sure it’s OK to exercise. Then start slowly with gentle, joint-friendly movements. It’s fine to respect your arthritis pain, but you don’t have to let it stop you.
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Wiselife Kitchen Mat Cushioned Anti
While one might not initially consider a floor mat a “kitchen tool,” it may prove to be one of your most helpful purchases.
“Standing for a longer period of time can be very uncomfortable, especially if you have arthritis in the knees, ankles, hips, etc.,” says Rodgers. “Using a foam mat in front of your sink, stove or countertop helps that standing for long periods can create.”
This mat is made of a thick foam that’s free of phthalates and latex, and it doesn’t have a chemical-laden smell. It also has a non-slip backing to help keep your feet firmly on the ground and prevent falls.
Buy it: Price: $21.99
Were Here To Help You Manage Your Arthritis
If chronic arthritic pain is dragging you down, we can help.
One of our specialties is managing chronic conditions. We know that keeping chronic conditions like arthritis in check can be difficult without the proper resources or support.
So, at OneLife Medical Center, we give our patients the best of the best for chronic condition care. Well be your partner to effectively manage your arthritis well. Contact us for a consultation today!
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What Vitamin Helps With Arthritis
Top 4 Supplements to Treat Arthritis Pain Curcumin Evidence suggests the turmeric root has anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin D. If you have arthritis pain or are at high risk for arthritis, your doctor may recommend a vitamin D supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate.
Lose Weight If Needed
Every pound of excess body weight you carry places four additional pounds of pressure on your knees. As a result, patients who are overweight have a four to five times higher risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. And once arthritis appears, the extra weight worsens the pain and accelerates joint damage.
Carrying extra fat takes another toll on your arthritis: It creates and releases biochemicals that promote inflammation and influence the course of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Losing weight comes down to consuming fewer calories than you use during your activities. If your daily activities are limited by arthritis, its especially important to be sure you adjust your caloric intake.
However, you also need to stay healthy, get all the nutrients you need, and create a meal plan thats packed with anti-inflammatory foods. Following an arthritis diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry, and beans is a good start, but let us know if you need help with weight loss.
Were proud to offer comprehensive and customized care for our patients with arthritis. Dont hesitate to call Pennsylvania Orthopedic Associates when you need help for any challenge you face while living with arthritis.
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What Is Menthol And How Does It Relieve Pain
Menthol is a chemical that is naturally found in mint plants such as peppermint. It has also been manufactured synthetically since the 1970s.
Menthol works in two ways, says Faye Rim, MD, Medical Director, Pre-Surgical Chronic Pain Management at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. One is as a counter-irritant. When you rub it in, it causes another sensation that distracts from your underlying pain. Menthol also creates a cooling sensation, like an ice pack, that can desensitize nerve endings.
Menthol binds to cold receptors in your skin and muscles and essentially tricks them into thinking that theyve come into contact with something super chilly.
How Can A Person With Arthritis Cope With It
Coping skills can help you manage the changes arthritis can bring to your life. Pain, stress and changes in roles and your physical appearance can cause depression and other strong feelings.
Use mental exercises and things you enjoy doing to relieve stress. Talk about the changes arthritis brings and share your feelings with family and friends.
Two sections in this article offer specific suggestions for coping.
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How Is Arthritis Treated
Theres no cure for arthritis, but there are treatments that can help you manage the condition. Your treatment plan will depend on the severity of the arthritis, its symptoms and your overall health.
Conservative treatments include:
- Medication: Anti-inflammatory and pain medications may help relieve your arthritis symptoms. Some medications, called biologics, target your immune systems inflammatory response. A healthcare provider may recommend biologics for your rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis.
- Physical therapy: Rehabilitation can help improve strength, range of motion and overall mobility. Therapists can teach you how to adjust your daily activities to lessen arthritic pain.
- Therapeutic injections: Cortisone shots may help temporarily relieve pain and inflammation in your joints. Arthritis in certain joints, such as your knee, may improve with a treatment called viscosupplementation. It injects lubricant to help joints move smoothly.
The Challenge Of Rheumatoid Arthritis And Osteoarthritis Pain Relief
The problem when managing pain associated with arthritis is finding the right approach to manage the disease/disorder, especially as it progresses. Not all treatments are effective, so you want to find a strategy that will allow you to not only manage your symptoms but will also enable you to maintain the lifestyle and activities you most enjoy.
Although arthritis is a chronic condition and is therefore incurable, a combination of at-home techniques and professional services will ensure that you regain control over your life and manage the pain that has been stifling it. Arthritis pain relief is possible.
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Tips For Managing Chronic Pain
Get effective chronic pain management strategies for arthritis with valuable tips and personal stories.
Overview
Many people who have arthritis or a related disease may be living with chronic pain. Pain is chronic when it lasts three to six months or longer, but arthritis pain can last a lifetime. It may be constant, or it may come and go. Chronic pain can make it hard to perform daily activities like cleaning the house, dressing, or looking after your kids. However, there are ways to effectively manage chronic arthritis pain. Follow these tips to help you feel better and learn from people who have experienced chronic pain from arthritis.
01. Take Your Medications
Prescription and over-the-counter drugs recommended by your doctor can help control inflammation and pain. If you have side effects that keep you from taking your medications, or if you have trouble affording their cost, speak to your doctor. There may be other options.
02. Manage Your Weight
Excess weight can cause more pressure on the weight-bearing joints and increase pain. Plus, adipose tissue sends out chemical signals that increase inflammation. Being overweight is bad for your overall health, as it increases your chances for heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers. Make sure you have a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, fresh fruit, whole grains and lean protein, such as beans, poultry, and fish. Stay away from processed foods, red meat, and sugary drinks.
03. Stay Active
How Lifestyle Affects Arthritis Pain
Living a healthy life may help reduce your risk of developing certain types of arthritis. It can also reduce the severity of your symptoms.
Being overweight or obese, for example, increases the pressure on your joints. It may also contribute to generalized inflammation that can increase arthritis symptoms. Losing weight in a healthy way may help ease these symptoms.
Healthy lifestyle changes are often the first steps in managing arthritis symptoms. You should try to improve your sleep, exercise regularly, and eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.
Exercise may be particularly useful in helping with arthritis symptoms. Low-impact exercise has been shown to:
- improve joint mobility
- reduce pain and fatigue
- strengthen muscles and bones
Staying in motion actually helps to keep pain away, says Dr. Moshe Lewis, MD, MPH. Exercise, such as brisk walking, is critical in treating pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. It extends the life of your joints.
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Ways To Thrive And Remain Active With Knee Arthritis
Common analogies like cheese being grated or sandpaper on wood just arent accurate. You are not wearing away your knee by walking, stretching, weight training, or exercising. If your pain level is a 3-4 or lower, you should probably keep going. Pain does not often imply that you are causing harm.
2. Treat the patient not the X-ray: This is so critical. X-rays do not tell us the whole picture. I know people with horrible-looking X-rays who are running marathons. I know people with severe pain and very mild changes on an x-ray. We do not treat X-rays we treat people.
Do not consider surgery on your knee based solely on the way your X-ray looks.
Do not curtail your activities simply because of how your Xray looks.
The treatment should be geared towards your symptoms, your complaints, your exam, and your X-rays combined. Your X-rays alone are only a small part of what will contribute to my recommendations if I see you in the office.
- ESR
- hs-CRP
- Fibrinogen
Find A Doctor Who Will Listen To You
I went through doctor after doctor trying to get a diagnosis. Because I was just 21 and the joint pain came on very suddenly, they thought Id just pulled a muscle and was being dramatic or something. After my hair started falling out in huge clumps so obviously I wasnt making it up! I finally found a rheumatologist who is 100 percent in my corner. She gave me her email address and told me I can ask her questions any time and shell get back to me within 24 hours. Knowing someone is taking me seriously has helped so much. Alisa
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Can Menthol Treat Arthritis Pain
There hasnt been a lot of research on menthol for arthritis, but some studies have suggested that it might help people with osteoarthritis as well as those with rheumatoid arthritis.
Menthol wont treat your underlying problem, such as cartilage deterioration due to osteoarthritis or joint inflammation due to an autoimmune or inflammatory condition like RA. But there is reason to believe that it may relieve some of the pain caused by these conditions.
Menthol isnt as effective as oral pain medication, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs , or pain-relieving injections, so its unlikely to be sufficient if youre in a lot of pain and its certainly not a stand-alone treatment if you have a chronic inflammatory or autoimmune form of arthritis. But for patients with mild discomfort, as well as those who want to supplement other treatments, menthol is an option, says Dr. Bose.
Menthol is apt to work best for arthritis when used to target joints like those in your hands and knees that are close to your skins surface. The catch is that menthols benefits tend to be short-term. It doesnt provide long-lasting relief, but it may be beneficial to use right before painful activities, says Dr. Rim. Check with your doctor first to make sure that its okay for you to engage in an activity that would otherwise be too uncomfortable.