Is it becoming too difficult for you to deal with your arthritis? Many people the world over are needlessly enduring the pain and reduced quality of life brought on by arthritis, without realizing that there are many effective treatment methods available. There are ways you can treat your arthritis pain, with or without prescription medications. Take the advice below to heart, and start dealing with your arthritis now.

Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, yours or anyone else’s. The nicotine in cigarettes can reduce blood flow to your extremities, which may reduce inflammation in the short term. In addition, your joints can also suffer longer term damage from a decreased flow of blood.

You should definitely avoid smoke from cigarettes, and if you are someone who smokes, quit. Initially, your inflammation may subside as the nicotine from cigarettes reduces blood flow, yielding a calming sensation. However, the lower level of blood circulation can harm your joints, which means that your arthritic condition will be worse than if you had not smoked.

Don’t make any additions or subtractions to your medicine before checking with your doctor to make sure it’s safe. Keep in mind that certain medications need time to build up to adequate levels inside your body before they provide relief. Another factor to consider is that some types of medications can aggravate your symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them.

Contrary to some medical conditions, research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption does not worsen arthritis. On the contrary, some research suggests that moderate consumption of alcohol may even reduce some arthritis symptoms.

You can help to relieve joint pain with the use of ice packs or heating pads. Alternating back and forth, between hot and cold, may provide the best relief. Before using the heat/cold method, get advice from your doctor about exactly what to do.

Place it on your thigh then press down with your hand. This method of minimizing finger use will save you pain, and make the process a lot less awkward.

Relaxing your body and eliminating stress can help to control your arthritis symptoms. Stress can cause the release of chemicals which cause inflammation to occur and arthritis pain to increase. Try to come up with some good coping mechanisms to reduce your level of stress, such as taking a daily walk or meditating for a few minutes.

If you have exhausted all the arthritis treatments available with no relief, it may be time to ask your doctor about the possibility of joint surgery. Joint surgery will help to increase your joint flexibility and can restore your natural movements.

Do not impose guilt on yourself or allow anyone else to do so. Some tasks will become harder as your condition progresses. Feeling bad about it serves no purpose, so don’t feel sorry for yourself. Sometimes you may not be able to succeed, however, this is a reason to work harder not to get upset.

Before considering surgery for arthritic knees, try using a brace designed for support. The brace can reduce pain and swelling and may help you to avoid painful knee surgery. You can wear one while you sleep.

Be a healthy weight to reduce the stress that is on your joints. Having excess pounds on your body can increase the strain on your joints, which makes your arthritis symptoms worse. Do not skip meals or deny yourself food in order to shed pounds, but adhere to a diet that provides your body with the necessary nutrients.

Visit your doctor regularly to have blood work completed. Being low in certain vitamins or minerals, like vitamin B-12 or iron, can cause havoc for arthritis sufferers. It exacerbates the symptoms. If you have these checked on a regular basis, you can catch any deficiencies early, which will reduce your overall level of pain.

If you are overweight or out of shape, address these issues. Extra weight definitely increases the strain of arthritis. By extension, losing weight is an easy way to lessen arthritic pain. Even the loss of a few pounds can provide you with significant relief from the symptoms of your arthritis.

A cane can be helpful and supportive. However, a cane, to many arthritis sufferers, tells people they are disabled so they go without it. If the cane lessens your pain, you will not be as disabled with one as you would be without on. Choose a personalized cane. It can have your favorite sports team on it or an elaborate design.

Keep up with the latest arthritis news. Bear in mind, however, that unless your current treatment is totally ineffective, it is unlikely that your doctor will be keen on switching treatments mid-stream. If you read or hear about a treatment that might help your condition, speak with your doctor. You may need to taper off your current medication before trying something new.

A hot shower or bath can ease the pain brought on by arthritis. The moist heat gives relief from arthritis pain by allowing your tendons and muscles to loosen, which will help you relax. Application of a damp heating pad is a great method as well. These heating pads can be purchased at most drug stores. In most cases, the moisture is activated when the product is switched on.

Visit your doctor regularly to have blood work completed. If you are chronically deficient in certain vitamins, especially vitamin B-12 and iron, your arthritis flare-ups will be more frequent and more painful. If you regularly have your blood work checked for deficiencies, you can manage your levels and reduce the amount of pain and inflammation associated with your condition.

If your life is affected by arthritis and the pain that comes with it, you don’t have to sit there and take it. You can stand up for yourself and give yourself the wellness that you desire from life. Start with the arthritis tips above that can show you a better way to manage your arthritis in a way that helps you in the long run and not only right now.