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Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA can be a very painful chronic condition, but it can also be manageable for many patients. It does get worse over time, so anyone that suspects that they have RA should see a doctor or Rheumatologist immediately. The sooner treatment starts, the better the prognosis. Here are some basic tips for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis that have proven helpful for pain relief in many patients.
Lose Weight
Excess weight makes the already stiff and swollen joints work harder. Being able to maintain a healthy body weight will help to ease pain and swelling. Weight loss is a long-term goal to work towards. In order to get there, you need to eat right and do light but regular exercise.
Sensible Exercise
The Mayo Clinic recommends swimming, water aerobics or just plain walking to help keep joints supple and reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Gardening or working with clay can help arthritic hands. But more exercise is not necessarily better. Patients with RA need to exercise only for a few minutes and then rest instead of trying to do too much too soon. Always have a doctor devise an exercise plan for you if you are out of shape.
Hot and Cold Therapy
What should you do if your joints are too stiff to begin moving? The Mayo Clinic recommends a fifteen minute hot compress, hot shower or hot bath to help loosen up stiffened joints. For stiff feet and ankles, soak the feet in warm water for four minutes and then cool water for a minute. Alternately, use a cold compress on the arthritic joint instead of hot. Cold can often numb pain, but is not recommended for those people with circulation problems, as the cold may stop circulation.
About this Author
Meredith Lee writes about a variety of interesting topics for online readers including health and product info. Visit http://www.bedwithdrawers.net/ which can help people find their best deals on king storage beds and more info about quality storage beds for everyone.
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