1. Know What Type of Arthritis You Have
It is common for people to self-diagnose themselves with arthritis whenever there is pain or stiffness in a joint. While arthritis is very common, there are many reasons that joints can become painful or stiff. Remember that there are two major forms of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a wearing away of the cartilage, causing bone to rub on bone. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. There are approximately 100 diseases that fall under the category of rheumatoid arthritis. So before seeking out therapies, make sure you check with your doctor and have the appropriate tests done to determine exactly what is casing your symptoms.
2. Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise is critical in helping you to manage your arthritis. Keeping your joints moving and your muscles strong and flexible will curb the stiffness that occurs and allow you to remain independent and participating in the activities you enjoy. If you find that land-based exercise is too painful, try exercising in the water. The Arthritis Foundation offers both land and water exercises classes and information can be found on their website.
3. Know the Benefits of Yoga
Yoga can also offer relief from arthritis symptoms. Living with chronic pain can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and avoidance of favorite activities. The first step is learning to manage your pain. Gentle stretching exercises can relax tight muscles and joints. As these areas loosen up, your pain symptoms will decrease. Yoga also incorporates deep breathing exercises that help calm and relax the body. As you learn to let go of tension in the body during your yoga class, you will then be able to learn to let go of tension during everyday activities. As you learn to do daily activities and hobbies in a more relaxed way you will notice that your pain is less. The body awareness that you learn in yoga will help you to make better choices during daily activities as you learn to avoid the movements and situations that aggravate your symptoms.
4. {ractice Relaxation Exercises
Relaxation exercises teach you techniques to help calm your body and mind. Living with chronic pain can lead to muscles that are constantly tight. You may also be constantly worrying about your situation. Having a chronic medical condition can often lead to worries about work, finances, relationships and remaining independent and able to care for yourself. This constant worry can lead to an overactive nervous system and constant activation of the fight or flight system. If the nervous system remains in an overactive state there can then be concerns about getting adequate sleep, an inability of the immune system to fight off infection and problems with the digestive and other systems.
Learning some simple relaxation and meditation techniques can help you to develop skills to calm the nervous system and take a mental break from contact worries. Practicing a relaxation or meditation technique for just 15 to 20 minutes each day can really help you to manage your symptoms.
5. Explore Alternative Therapies
Other alternative therapies that may be helpful include acupuncture or acupressure. This form of Chinese medicine believes that disease occurs from an imbalance in the flow of Chi or energy in the body. Acupuncture is a relaxing and painless technique that places very small needles at specific points in the body to restore balance.
Massage can also provide relief. There are many forms of massage and bodywork techniques that can help to release muscular tension and improve range of motion in your joints.
