5 Simple Lifestyle Changes to Help You Manage Arthritis Pain

Managing the symptoms of arthritis is both frustrating and difficult. The pain and swelling in your joints may be preventing you from everyday activities or actions that you’ve taken for granted.

With more than 100 different types, arthritis is a relatively common condition, though each specific kind of arthritis affects a different part of the body. We usually associate arthritis with older adults, but this isn’t always the case.

Girl with sore foot on gray background
Image source: pexels.com

People of any age are susceptible to certain types of arthritis, most commonly rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain and other problems in the joints. If you’re already dealing with one of these conditions, try implementing a few of these lifestyle changes to reduce your pain.

Exercise Often

Although the idea of moving around and exercising may be the last thing you want to do when your arthritis is flaring up, working out is the exact thing that will help strengthen the muscles around your joints. It will also reduce your pain in the long run. Don’t feel the need to push yourself beyond your limits, however. You definitely don’t want to cause further pain or damage.

Develop your own arthritis workout designed to help manage your pain and strengthen your body. Start off easy by simply walking through the neighborhood once a day, then build on your routine. Don’t try to push yourself to do anything too strenuous—focus on low-impact cardio and moderate strength training. If you’re noticing pain, allow yourself time to rest or stop completely. You don’t want to overexert your muscles.

Drink Lots of Water

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Keeping your body hydrated is essential to overcoming many, many different conditions and problems. Everything from your skin to your joints relies on water to help the body function properly. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day will help to rid your body of toxins and reduce the level of painful inflammation in your joints.

Many people with arthritis experience a loss of grip strength, which can make it very difficult to pick up everyday objects like a water bottle. The bkr spiked water bottle has been an essential purchase for people with gripping problems because the bottle’s silicone sleeve is designed with soft spikes that work with your hand to support the bottle’s weight. This particular bottle also features a large loop handle on the bottle’s cap for extra assistance with opening and closing the bottle.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

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Salmon; image source: pexels.com

The key to reducing your arthritis pain is to decrease the inflammation in your joints, which can be caused by certain aspects of your diet. Focus on eating foods low in calories and fats—although some good fats, like the monounsaturated fats found in avocado, are known to be anti-inflammatory.

Your diet should consist of fruits and veggies in addition to good sources of protein. Fatty fish, in particular, is great for anyone managing arthritis pain because the omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect, helping to reduce the pain in your joints. Avoid junk food and try to focus on integrating more raw foods into your diet. Then, look into anti-inflammatory foods, like garlic and walnuts, specifically recommended for arthritis patients.

Avoid Alcohol

Not only does alcohol increase your calorie intake, but it also causes inflammation throughout your body—two things you surely want to avoid. Although it may be okay to indulge in a little bit of alcohol from time to time, talk to your doctor first to understand how much is okay and what to do if you start to feel increased pain after drinking. For the most part, we recommend just avoiding the stuff altogether.

Excessive drinking leads to swelling, which puts extra strain on your joints. Instead, keep a convenient 8 oz water bottle or 16 oz water bottle with you to help get that much-needed hydration to help ease joint pain.

Take Steps to Reduce Stress

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Image source: truestressmanagement.com

As with other conditions, stress can play a major role in an arthritis flare-up. Our bodies respond to feelings of anxiety with a “fight or flight” mentality, making our brains believe that we’re in a life or death situation. However, this additional pressure can actually make your pain feel more severe.

Try to take steps that actively manage your stress level by doing things like meditating once a day or going for a walk throughout the neighborhood (bonus points for exercising at the same time!). If you feel like you need to take a longer break, even a mini-vacation could really help. The important thing is to listen to your body and take the time you need to de-stress.

Learning to Manage Arthritis Pain

Living with arthritis pain can be frustrating and difficult. Loved ones want to help, but may not be sure what they can do to ease your pain. Aside from leading a healthy lifestyle, you can also invest in tools and accessories explicitly created to overcome some of the obstacles presented by arthritis.

A spiked bkr water bottle is perfect for anyone having a difficult time gripping things. It can help you comfortably grab your own water bottle and remind you to keep hydrating. Adding door handles or handrails can also help you with standing or walking.

Healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise, a nutritious diet and avoiding alcohol are the best tools to manage and overcome your arthritis pain. It’s also helpful to use products specifically made for those who have arthritis. Talk to your doctor if you want more information on specific medications or practices to reduce your pain, strengthen your muscles around your joints and live a happy, healthy life.

 

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