Millions of people are suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is a disease of the joints and the tissues that surrounds the joints. Arthritis is the inflammation of the joints that leads to painful swelling and stiffness in and around the joints. Living with this kind of disease can rob you of your active and productive life. In severe cases, sufferers will find it hard to perform even the simplest tasks like walking.

Arthritis is commonly associated with old age because the risk of developing arthritis increases with age. The natural wear and tear of muscles and joints comes with age but age is not the only factor that affects the occurrence of arthritis. Other causes of arthritis include autoimmune disease, bone injury, obesity or being overweight, bacterial or viral infections and genetics.

The pain and discomfort of arthritis can affect your everyday life. It is important to find the best treatment that will work for you to achieve freedom from arthritis pain and improve the quality of your life.

Seek professional help. It is important to consult your doctor at the first sign of joint inflammation. Depending on the cause of the arthritis, your doctor may recommend the necessary treatment plan for you to achieve freedom from arthritis pain. Treatments may include medications and therapy. It is important to take medications under the supervision of your doctor. Surgery is always the last resort.

Stress management. Stress plays an important role when it comes to our health. Dealing with painful arthritis and living with the frustrations and physical limitations brought by arthritis can be very stressful. Stress can worsen the pain brought by arthritis. There are many ways to reduce your stress level like deep breathing, relaxation techniques and counseling or joining a support group.

Diet modification. Diet plays an important role in the condition of our body. There are foods that can trigger arthritis. It is important to keep a journal and take note of the foods that can trigger your arthritis. Once you identified your problem foods, it is best to avoid them to achieve freedom from arthritis pain. It is important to eat a well balanced diet for your overall health but it may be necessary to avoid those foods that can trigger your arthritis if you want to achieve freedom from arthritis pain. If you are taking medications, alcohol drinking may have a negative reaction to your medicine, so talk to your doctor about it.

Rest the inflamed joints. When you are having arthritis attack, it is important to rest and relax the sore joints once in a while to reduce the pain. You should avoid movements that can put extra stress and pressure on your joints. Rest does not mean you have to be stagnant and motionless because prolonged rest and inactivity aggravates arthritis.

Exercise. It is important to take a rest while you are having arthritis attack but exercise is also

important when your arthritis is not on its active state. Keep an active life to maintain healthy muscles and bones. Of course you also have to consider your limitations before engaging in any exercise activity. Low impact aerobics, swimming and walking can be very helpful but it is best to work with a physical therapist to know the best exercise program that will work for you.

Arthritis can be very disabling and it can hinder you from enjoying life. It is important to act now and find the best treatment plan that will work for you. If you have tried almost everything and still suffering from chronic arthritis, do not lose hope because alternative treatments are another option to help you achieve freedom from arthritis pain.