If you have recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you may be looking for more information about what you can do to soothe the pain you feel. While there is not a complete cure for this disease, here are some things you can do to help your joints feel better.
Change Your Diet
You may not realize this, but some of the foods you are eating may be contributing to the pain you feel. Potatoes, eggplants and other so-called nightshades can aggravate and inflame your joints. Try eliminating them from your diet and see if you feel a little better.
It is a good idea to start ingesting foods such as salmon, tuna, and flax seeds, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These acids can help decrease inflammation, which can soothe the pain you feel. If you don't care for foods that contain omega-3 acids, you might consider supplementing with fish oil capsules instead.
Start Exercising
One thing you may be reluctant to do when you have joint pain is to start exercising. You might think that doing so will put you in more pain. However, exercising can be beneficial when you have arthritis. It can help strengthen muscles around your joints, which can ease pressure in spots where you may be experiencing pain. Exercise can also increase range of motion so you don't lose use of your joints. You may even find that you lose weight once you start exercising, which can be helpful for taking pressure off of inflamed joints.
You don't have to exert yourself strenuously to see the benefits of exercise. If all you can do is take a walk around the block, that is a good place to start. You may also want to focus on low impact exercise such as aqua aerobics or yoga.
Protect All Your Joints
You may have joints that are not affected by arthritis, and it is important to do everything you can to protect them. For instance, instead of holding a book with your fingers as you read, put the book in the palm of your hand or on a flat surface. Rather than lift a heavy pot, slide it across the counter.
Now that you know some of the things you can do to soothe your joints, use the tips in this article to see which work best for you. Talk to a doctor like Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates of South Jersey about specialized rheumatology treatment that may also help you.
Share11 September 2015
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