Have you seen many doctors and consulted with specialists regarding you arthritis? How much different recommendations have you been given? Your doctor is better able to accurately diagnosis and treat your arthritis if you go to your appointment with some accurate information about your symptoms. These tips will help you deal with the pain and inconvenience of arthritis. By following the advice appropriate for your situation, you can better cope with arthritis.

Sleep is vital! Without it, your body can never fight back against the painful effects of arthritis. The amount of sleep people require usually vary from 6-8 hours per night, more if the stress level is high. Your body will gain enormous benefits from sleep.

Ask your doctor about any changes you want to make. Many medications take time to begin working.

If you have arthritis and are building a new home, request that the builder include some modifications. Sit down and create a list of all the things you want with your builder. Make these changes if you want to avoid as much pain as possible when it comes to your joints.

Cold Packs

Reduce the pain and stiffness cause by arthritis by alternating heat and cold treatments. In order to get the best results, you should alternate between using a heating pad and ice pack. Ask your doctor about what he recommends when you use cold and heat to soothe your pain.

Cold packs can numb localized pain and heat can relax muscles while increasing blood flow to the area. Your joints can easily become inflamed, so switching between hot and cold packs can soothe pain and reduce swelling. Do not use these treatments too frequently, because too much heat or cold can cause future problems. Do not exceed twice daily treatments.

When trying to cope with the pain of arthritis, do not abuse pain medication. Prescription pain pills may create an addiction, and their help is only short-term. Take any prescription medication exactly as directed by your physician.

Any woman suffering with arthritis should think twice before donning those high heels. Attractive, high heels seriously damage your feet. High heels increase torque around the knees which just agitates the symptoms of arthritis. Therefore, it is advised that you wear comfortable shoes to diminish arthritis pain. Your feet and legs will be grateful.

Maintaining a healthy weight will help reduce the stress on joints. Having excess pounds on your body can increase the strain on your joints, which makes your arthritis symptoms worse. Kill two birds with one stone by losing weight with a good diet that also improves the way you feel.

See to it that you pay close attention to the food you eat. Arthritis suffers may also have food allergies or reactions to certain types seasonings, but they fail to recognize the problem. Keep detailed notes about the foods that you eat and what symptoms you experience. Note what foods make your symptoms worse. You might be able to determine its root cause.

If your arthritis pain is affecting your sleep, try getting a warm bath with bath salts in the evening. This can relax your muscles and reduce your pain, helping you sleep.

A cane is a good support instrument, use it if you need to. There are people who have arthritis but avoid using a cane; they think it is a sign of weakness. However, if the suffering is reduced via using a cane, then it only makes sense to put your pride aside and do what is best for your joints. Find a cane that you absolutely like carrying and using.

Never think bad about yourself, or let others. When you suffer from arthritis, you are probably not comfortable doing particular tasks. If you feel pressured or guilty, the situation can be worsened, so you need to remind yourself that you’re not at fault. Find activities you can do and enjoy and have someone help you with the tasks that have become impossible.

Sit back, relax, close your eyes and breathe deeply for a while. This will help you think happy thoughts and ignore the constant pain you are in.

Surprisingly, one way to alleviate arthritis pain is to develop your abdominal muscles. A stronger core means better posture and less joint pain. Make sure not to work too hard when exercising.

Managing your arthritis will help you be more satisfied with life by easing the stress and pain that makes your life difficult. Use these management tips to better control your condition.

Arthritis is very stress-sensitive, so you can see great results quickly if you learn to relax. Whenever you are feeling stressed, your body releases chemicals that often cause inflammation, worsening your arthritis. Exercise and meditation can both be used to reduce stress.