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Managing Your Arthritis

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No one enjoys being in pain as they age. Unfortunately, 12 percent of the population has osteoarthritis. That's nearly 21 million Americans, and the percentage of people who have it increases with age.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects another 1.3 million Americans, and it can be hard to know how to handle it. What causes rheumatoid arthritis? It happens when the immune system attacks healthy tissue instead of fighting disease as it should.

There is no known cure for arthritis, so you have to manage it instead. As medicine advances, the treatments for RA get better. Here are some tips on how you can manage your arthritis.

Exercise

Exercise is good for anyone, but for RA patients it's so beneficial that it's considered a core part of the treatment. Low-impact aerobic activity helps you avoid putting more stress on the joints.

Your exercise program needs to match your medical condition, so that you can be mindful of any joint damage that already exists. A physical therapist can help you create a program that's right for you.

Rest

Rest is almost as important as exercise. Fatigue is one of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, and it's important to be gentle with yourself.

Rest can help reduce inflammation and give the body time to heal itself. Taking regular breaks helps protect your joints from additional damage. You should also conserve energy so that you have enough for the important activities in your day.

Hot and Cold Therapies

Anyone with stiff muscles and sore joints can benefit from hot and cold therapies, so RA sufferers should make a note of this. Cold can help acute pain and reduce inflammation.

Heating therapies can help relax stiff muscles and aching joints. When heat and cold are used in conjunction with other treatments, the process can bring major arthritis relief.

Medication and Supplements

A rheumatologist can help you find the drug treatment plan that works best for you. Rheumatoid arthritis treatment generally includes methotrexate, and you may also need supplements such as folic acid, calcium and other supplements.

You might also use over-the-counter pain medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen can be very helpful to reduce swelling and pain. Sometimes a doctor will prescribe rheumatoid arthritis biologics.

You want to work with a doctor who shares your commitment to maintaining a healthy, active life. This may involve ups and downs as you find the dosage and mixture that works for you, but if you keep at it you can have a significantly better quality of life.

You Can Live Well With RA

While RA progresses differently in every person, there are a variety of therapies like the ones mentioned above to help you treat it. Don't feel like this diagnosis is a sentence. It's just something you have to manage to live a great life.