Coping with Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

Those living with rheumatoid arthritis know the pain can sometimes seem unbearable. The pain can make even the simplest activities, such as tying your shoes or opening a jar, extremely difficult.

Luckily, however, there are some things you can do to make your arthritis pain more manageable. In addition to taking arthritis medication and using lotions and gels, you can also make some lifestyle changes to reduce your pain.

Ways to Avoid Arthritis Pain

By simply making a few changes in your daily life, you can make huge strides toward lessening and even avoiding arthritis pain. Here are a few simple things you can do to make your pain more manageable:

• Get Plenty of Exercise: While a lack of exercise can make you weak and increase your pain, so too can overdoing exercise. In order to get the exercise your body needs, try gentle, low-impact exercise. Swimming is a great way for people with rheumatoid arthritis to get exercise. You might also want to try stretching exercises.
• Get Plenty of Sleep: Getting enough sleep helps your body regenerate and helps your body function properly. Most doctors recommend getting at least six to eight hours of sleep per night. Also, take naps during the day if necessary. If you have problems sleeping, avoid consuming caffeine during the day. Also, avoid exercising directly prior to bedtime, as this can keep you alert and restless.
• Know Your Limits: Know exactly how much your body can take and don't push past your limits. This might mean that you can't accomplish all of your chores in a specific period of time or complete an exercise session. However, it's better to put things off than experience unnecessary pain.
• Learn How to Relax