There are many effective treatments that will relieve your pain while keeping your joints as healthy as possible. If you take the above advice and use it, you will be able to manage your arthritis pain more effectively.

Exercising is great for reliving tightness in your joints; just make sure they are low impact exercises such as cycling, swimming or even just walking. If you are unsure whether exercise is okay for you, talk to a doctor first.

Keep a diary everyday if you have rheumatoid arthritis. A journal is good for reminding you what exactly has been triggering your arthritis each time it flares up. Keeping a diary can help you identify the causes of and effective treatments for your painful arthritis symptoms. You should also take this diary along when you visit your doctor, so that he has more information to build a better treatment plan with you. A diary can obviously be a very helpful, valuable resource.

Surprisingly, controlled alcohol consumption won’t worsen the effects of your arthritis. Many studies have shown that moderate consumption can lessen the symptoms.

Treating arthritis early on can be helpful. One form of prevention is to develop good typing habits. Simple fixes include leveling your fingers with the keyboard and using a pad that raises your hands to a higher level. This lessens the amount of stress on the hands and keeps you from developing further problems down the road with your hands.

Stay away from high heels and uncomfortable shoes if you suffer from arthritis. Not wearing the proper shoes can cause an abnormal gait affecting your arthritis everywhere in your body. Purchase some comfy sneakers with plenty of support.

Narcotic pain relievers should not be the first line of treatment for arthritis pain. Narcotic painkillers have addictive properties and only mask the pain temporarily. If you do have a prescription for painkillers, and you are planning on taking them, make sure that you only take them exactly as your doctor has directed.

Make sure you have equipment that aids you. There are many items and accessories available that can make it easier for anyone with arthritis to complete any task. Devices such as rails for the bathroom, and easy to open jars make living with arthritis easier, allowing you to retain more of your independence. Purchasing these useful tools can lead to a less frustrating life.

Joint surgery might be just what you need to find relief from your arthritis symptoms. Joint surgery can sometimes help with arthritis by improving mobility and flexibility, and also reducing pain. It has generally been effective for most patients that decide to try it.

Use assistant devices when you do strenuous activities. Lifting heavy or large objects or standing for a long time can stress your joints, and it is best to do what you can to prevent that. When you use good sense in choosing better ways to reduce the pain and injury associated with tasks such as lifting or reaching, you can maintain movement while avoiding additional injury from performing these functions incorrectly and placing unnecessary stress on your joints.

Let your doctor check for deficiencies. Your arthritis is likely to cause more pain, or flare up, if you are low on such nutrients as B-12 or iron. A consistent schedule of checks will ensure that you’re getting the right nutrition and minimizing the risk of inflammation and joint pain.

Unless you absolutely need painkillers, do not use them when dealing with your arthritis pain. Lots of pain killers can quickly lead to addiction. Talk to your doctor about pain killers, and do not take more than you should.

Wear sun block, and protect yourself from UV rays. Anyone with arthritis will want to avoid the obvious negative consequences of serious sun damage, but also the dangerous side effects arthritis medicine can have if you are out in the sun too long. It is crucial that you wear protective clothing when you are outside to minimize your chances of being adversely affected by the sun.

Make sure your water intake is sufficient. Grab the water bottle or fill your glass under the tap when thirsty, and feel great knowing water is the most healthful type of fluid you can provide for your body. Avoid drinks that dehydrate you like alcohol and those containing caffeine.

If you want to avoid knee surgery, try wearing a brace on your knee for a while. A knee brace can really minimize the pain and swelling of arthritis and surgery should be viewed as a last resort whenever possible. You can wear the brace when you are sleeping.

Massage castor oil into joints to relieve the stiffness and pain you feel as a result of your arthritis. The oil itself will help reduce inflammation in your joints, but there are other benefits as well. The oil will relieve stiffness, and the rubbing will help with the flow of your blood and pain reduction.

There are a number of things you must learn about arthritis so you can truly manage it; the advice in this article helps you know more about your condition and how best to control it. The arthritis tips included in this article are great starting points to help you to understand more about the painful condition you are experiencing, and begin an effective pain management program.

Don’t let yourself stress out too much. A lot of times, stress can be the trigger that sets off inflammation and swelling due to arthritis. Look into certain things that can help to reduce stress. This will help to keep you as healthy as possible in any situation.