There are a number of treatment options available to help fight your arthritis. Unfortunately, many people are lacking the knowledge to help them cope effectively. You can start becoming informed about them by perusing the hints and tips in the following article. If you make use of the suggestions you find especially applicable, you can overcome the challenges of arthritis and live your life the way you want to.

If you suffer from arthritis, make sure you wear good quality shoes when exercising. Your weight distribution becomes uneven as your shoes wear out. This can cause a lot of problems in your ankles, knees and hip joints. Buy new exercise shoes on a regular basis, particularly when you find that the wear on the bottom of the soles is uneven.

High heels should be carefully considered if you have arthritis. While high heels are a perennial favorite, they are really bad for your feet. High heels may increase torque in the knees and exacerbate arthritis. Wear shoes you feel comfortable in and your legs should feel better. Your arthritic knees will respond gratefully.

Understanding how arthritis impacts your body goes a long way to helping you manage your symptoms. There is a vast library of information available to those with arthritis which gives information on managing pain, effective exercises and dietary do’s and don’ts. By learning more about arthritis, you could find certain foods, workouts, and treatments that reduce your symptoms.

If you are a chronic arthritis sufferer, you should be aware that you are legally able to park in handicapped spaces. Getting parked as fast as possible will help make things easier if you tend to get pain in your legs when you seat behind the wheel.

If you are in the process of building or remodeling a home, talk to your builder to see if they can make some modifications. Make a list with the person that will be constructing your home. These changes can ease pain and will make your life easier to deal with.

Physical Therapist

Work with a physical therapist. If your daily routine is constantly interrupted by arthritis, you can get your time and flexibility back with a workout program customized for you personally by your physical therapist. You will get the best results when you follow your action plan on a regular basis.

If you drive and you suffer from chronic arthritis, it is important that you know that you are eligible for handicap parking. Many people with arthritis do not know this, so they are stuck parking in regular parking spaces, which can be hard for those who are in chronic pain.

If you suffer from chronic pain from arthritis, consider going to a sauna for pain relief. Saunas provide the moisture and the heat that greatly helps to lower the level of inflammation in the joints. This will help greatly with the pain caused by arthritis. Visit regularly, though. The benefits come from regular visits.

Electrical stimulation can be a great treatment for osteoarthritis, but consult your doctor about the pros and cons. This treatment reduces swelling and pain. It has been clinically proven to be quite effective in the knee area.

Cigarettes worsen arthritis and decrease flexibility, so avoid smoking at all costs. The negative impact it has on your arthritis symptoms is just one more factor to motivate you to quit smoking today.

Be sure to tell other people. Talk to them about arthritis and how your arthritis is affecting you. People observing from the outside have no idea just how frustrating, stressful, and negative it can be for you to deal with arthritis day in and day out. Help them understand the cause so that you can get support to relieve some stress!

Watch for new treatments. Sometimes, physicians don’t try new things with patients until the treatment they are using becomes ineffective. If you learn of something new, and you think it would be better for you, talk with your doctor about it.

Try to avoid prescription pain killers when dealing with arthritis pain. It is easy to become hooked on many of these pills, and they do not provide a permanent solution. 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.

Stop using cigarettes if you want to reduce the pain and inflammation that commonly comes with arthritis. Through studies it has been found that not smoking creates fewer issues with arthritis and swollen joints. You should seriously consider quitting smoking to help you with your arthritis. It can be hard to stop smoking on your own, but your physician can prescribe medication that may help you to quit.

Think about counseling if you are having a hard time dealing emotionally with arthritis. Chronic pain not only ravages the body, it also drains you emotionally. A professional therapist can help you cope with your feelings about arthritis and help you understand and manage them in a productive, healthy way.

Get as much quality sleep as you can. It’s important for any arthritis sufferer to experience the rejuvenating effects of a good night’s rest. Consider sleeping to total darkness (hide your alarm clock), turn off any cell phones, and implement some relaxing exercises before you go to bed.

If you are fed up with how the pain of arthritis has diminished your quality of life, it’s time for you to take control of your disease instead of letting it control you. When you’re armed with the proper knowledge, you can win the battle for a pain-free life. Use these tips to get through the condition and get your quality of life back.