TIP! Water sports are great for those who suffer from arthritis. Water activities are not weight-bearing, so they are easier on your joints.

There are dozens of proven treatment plans for dealing with the effects of arthritis. Most of these plans can help to increase the health of your joints while decreasing your pain. However, you will not be able to figure out these methods yourself. Begin your researching by reviewing the following tips. After you start incorporating these methods into your arthritis treatment plan, you’ll once again be able to participate in all of the activities you used to enjoy.

TIP! If you are developing a home and you have arthritis, make necessary modifications. Have a meeting with your builder to come up with a list of things that can be done to make your home more livable for you.

Use heating pads or ice packs to help relieve some of the pain in your joints. For maximum effectiveness, alternate between hot and cold applications. A physician can offer you more detailed advice about utilizing hot and cold therapy to treat pain.

TIP! In order to handle arthritis better you need to look for ways to eliminate stress and relax. Whenever you are feeling stressed, your body releases chemicals that often cause inflammation, worsening your arthritis.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, keep a journal. A journal will help you determine what triggers acute pain, and which treatments are most effective. This way, you will also learn what actually helps your arthritis. You should bring these notes to discuss with yor doctor, so he can work with you to prescribe the most effective treatment program. It is an important item to have.

TIP! People who drive with arthritis are able to park in handicap spots. Many arthritis suffers are not aware of this, so they cause undue stress and strain by parking in remote spaces.

If you are a chronic arthritis sufferer and you drive on a regular basis, you should realize that you are qualified for handicap parking. Many people with arthritis do not know this, so they are stuck parking in regular parking spaces, which can be hard for those who are in chronic pain.

TIP! Be sure to pay close attention to your diet. Some people can be, without knowing it, sensitive to particular foods that make their arthritis worse.

You should switch back and forth between hot and cold when treating your arthritis. If your joints are stressed from overworking, switch back and forth between hot packs and cold packs to alleviate the pain and help reduce swelling. Be careful not to overdo it with icing or heating — use moderation in applying these treatments. Try to do it, at most, twice per day.

TIP! Do not make yourself sad and do not allow others to do it either. Arthritis may cause the inability to perform tasks that you once did with ease.

If you are tired of constantly feeling the pain and decreased lifestyle of arthritis, then do something about it. Knowledge can arm you to overcome the challenges of arthritis. Use the advice from this article to cope with your condition so you can get your old life back.