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.

Ways to Avoid Arthritis Pain

• 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 & Rest: When you're performing activities or are exercising, you need to allow periods for resting and relaxing. This will keep your body from overexerting itself.
  
  Also, learn relaxation tips to help you deal with stressful times and everyday stressors.
  
  
• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being even slightly overweight can increase the pressure on your joints and increase your pain.
  
  In order to maintain a healthy weight, get plenty of appropriate exercise and follow a healthy diet. Your diet should include plenty of fruits, vegetables and lean protein sources. Avoid foods that are high in fat, sodium and cholesterol.
  
  
• Protect Your Joints: Protecting your joints will keep you from injuring them. You can protect your joints by using assistive devices, wearing supports and by resting the joints. Talk to your doctor about devices and supports that you can use to protect your joints.
  
  
• Take Your Medication as Directed: When your doctor prescribes you medication, he or she will tell you how often and when you should take it. Following those directions is important, as skipping doses or taking more doses than necessary doesn't allow your body to react to the medication properly.
  
  If you have problems remembering to take your medication, set an alarm to go off at the time of your next dose.

Pain Management for Arthritis Pain

• applying heat and cold treatments
• applying topical treatments
• getting appropriate exercise
• getting massages
• maintaining a positive attitude
• resting and relaxing
• taking cool baths.

Resources

Arthritis Foundation (2007). Understanding Your Pain. Retrieved June 21, 2007, from the Arthritis Foundation Web site: http://www.arthritis.org/understanding-pain.php.