Millions of people all over the world suffer with the painful symptoms of arthritis. Although having it can be very painful, there are things that you can learn about arthritis in order to ease some of the negative effects. The information provided in this article will get you on the right track to handling your arthritis, and minimizing the symptoms.

If you find it difficult to sleep due to pain from arthritis, it may help to take a warm bath with bath salts prior to going to bed. Doing this assists your body in relaxing and eases the pains of arthritis. This helps you fall asleep and stay that way for a longer period of time.

While it may not always seem easy, regular exercise is important for arthritis sufferers. If you don’t exercise your joints regularly, they may become fatigued and atrophy, which will worsen symptoms. You should do flexibility exercises so that you can increase the range in which you can move.

Avoid wearing high heels and shoes that are not comfortable if you are one of the many that suffers from arthritis. No matter where you have arthritis, shoes that are uncomfortable will cause you to walk abnormally and produce a negative effect on your arthritis symptoms. Wear comfortable shoes that offer proper support.

If you are remodeling or designing a home and suffer from arthritis, consider asking about customizations to enhance your quality of life. Sit and speak with your builder to create a list. These changes can ease pain and will make your life easier to deal with.

If you are battling the effects of arthritis, you must not deprive your body of sleep. Your body will not have the strength to fight the pain associated with arthritis without proper sleep. For the best results, you need eight hours of sleep every day, and ten hours would be wise after a notably tiring, stressful day. Huge benefits are bestowed upon the body during sleep.

Sit back, close your eyes, relax and take a couple deep breaths. Taking time to relax can help you refocus your thoughts into happier ones.

Alternate hot and cold treatments. It is easy to overuse your joints, so use both treatment methods as a way to relieve your pain and lower your swelling. Try not to do these treatments too often, as over-icing or heating can lead to more issues down the road. To prevent overdoing it, stick with twice daily.

If you are designing a new home and living with arthritis, ask for some builder modifications. Meet with the builder and write down a list of the modifications you want. These kinds of changes can make it so you don’t have to make painful movements, easing your daily discomfort.

Arthritis pain can sometimes be reduced by using aromatherapy methods. The medical community has proven that aromatherapy can relax muscles and joints, helping ease the pain of arthritis.

If no other treatments help your arthritis, maybe you should speak to your doctor about joint surgery. Surgery can reverse the effects of arthritis on your joints. It is extremely effective for most people.

Both cold and hot treatments can be effective when alternated. It is easy to strain your joints, so using cold and hot packs on them can reduce the discomfort and swelling. However, don’t overdo it, as prolonged hot and cold treatments can result in additional bodily harm. Do not do this more than twice a day.

Increase the amount of vegetables you consume, and reduce the amount of meat. Research has shown that a vegetarian diet can have a beneficial effect on arthritis sufferers, reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation. If your carnivorous side is too strong to ignore, try to eat only a small portion of meat while filling at least half of your plate with vegetables, and you can still garner the majority of these benefits.

Electrical Stimulation

Staying at a normal weight will put less pressure on your joints. If you are overweight it can put unneeded stress on joints and make your arthritis worse. Rather than missing meals or not eating at all, choose a healthy diet plan to give your body the healthy nutrients it needs.

Anyone experiencing severe knee pain from osteoarthritis should consider asking their doctor about the benefits of electrical stimulation. There is proof that electrical stimulation treatments produces effective results in both reducing swelling and reducing pain in arthritic knee joints.

Buy helpful equipment. There are specially designed tools to more easily perform many tasks. There are plenty of products on the market specifically designed to help arthritis sufferers: zippers, shoe horns, pens and can openers, to name but a few. These basic tools can simplify your life.

Play close attention to the food you are consuming. Many arthritis sufferers actually suffer from undiagnosed food sensitivities. Keep a ledger of what you consume, and take note of when your symptoms materialize. By careful observation, you will probably be able to decipher what foods cause flare-ups.

Do not get stressed out. Stress can also trigger swelling and inflammation, which may lead to arthritis flare-ups. Find some things you can do that can relieve stress, use them when you can to keep your body and mind strong, no matter what you are dealing with.

Set up a timer. Using a timer will remind you to stop and take a break occasionally. Although it might tempt you, as it does a lot of people, don’t try to overcome pain to get a particular task completed. This is rarely worth the effort and potential damage it exposes you to.

A cane is worth considering if your arthritis leaves you in need of extra support. Many people with arthritis refuse to walk with a cane, as they think it makes them appear disabled. If your pain is lessened by the use of a cane, you will be less disabled with one than without it. Find a cane that you absolutely like carrying and using.

In conclusion, arthritis affects millions of people worldwide. When you understand the specifics of arthritis, it is much easier to think of ways to combat it. Apply these tips and adapt them to your condition to make arthritis easier to live with.