Managing Arthritis in Your Day-to-Day Life

Arthritis is a term that describes almost 100 different conditions that affect the joints. Each type of arthritis damages the joint space differently, leading to pain, stiffness, and sometimes disability.

Although arthritis seems hopeless some days, there are many ways to manage the symptoms without surgery. A few lifestyle tips and tricks can help you manage your daily life and combat arthritis symptoms.

If you have arthritis and need professional help, the Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team has the knowledge and tools to treat the condition effectively.

Dr. Brian Snow and Dr. Jon Thompson are both board-certified orthopedic surgeons who provide cartilage restoration, regenerative medicine, and robotic joint replacements for people with severe arthritis.

Signs and symptoms of arthritis

Arthritis isn't simply one disease; it describes many different conditions that affect the joints in the body. You’ve likely heard of a few kinds, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and osteoarthritis.

Inflammation and joint damage are the issues that arise with arthritis. All the forms of arthritis somehow affect the joints, causing various symptoms that include:

• Swelling around the joint
• Stiffness after rest or too much movement
• Pain that comes and goes
• Tenderness around the affected joint
• Restricted range of motion
• Warmth or redness at the joint

Some forms of arthritis cause other symptoms, like gout, which leads to pain and inflammation of the big toe, and psoriatic arthritis, which leads to changes in the skin. The goal of treating arthritis is reducing inflammation and seeking professional care to avoid long-term complications.

Managing arthritis pain daily

The good news about arthritis is that there are plenty of ways to manage it in daily life. Most forms of arthritis go through flares and remission, meaning they may be worse on some days and better on others.

After being diagnosed with arthritis, it’s essential to learn everything you can about the condition. The more you know, the better off you will be and the more successful you will be at managing your symptoms.

Our team has a few tips and tricks up their sleeves as well, and we offer the following lifestyle tips to help you manage arthritis at home.

Get moving

Exercise is crucial in managing daily arthritis pain. It’s essential to move every day and build up the muscles that support your joints. Stretching, weight training, and range-of-motion exercises are best for managing arthritis symptoms.

Watch your weight

Excess weight stresses the joints, which already have damage from arthritis. Living with arthritis means maintaining a healthy weight to avoid progression of the disease and further complications. Eat a healthy diet and avoid inflammatory foods for the best results.

Get plenty of rest

As much as you want to get moving and exercise, resting your joints is just as essential. Make sure you balance exercise with the right amount of downtime to let your joints heal and relax. Overdoing it could lead to further injury to the joint space.

Try alternative therapies

Alternative therapies are a great way to manage pain and relax. Massage, acupuncture, and yoga are great ways to achieve a healthy mind and eliminate stiffness and pain from arthritis.

Treat pain

Arthritis flares are standard and often lead to increased pain in the affected joints. Managing the disease requires getting ahead of the pain. To alleviate an arthritis flare, use over-the-counter pain medications, ice or heat, and gentle stretching.

Watch your posture

Your posture is an essential aspect of managing arthritis. Poor posture strains the muscles that support the joint, which could lead to further injury and degeneration. Use good posture when sitting, standing, and sleeping to keep stress off the joints.

What shouldn't I do to avoid an arthritis flare?

It’s essential to take the proper steps and avoid anything that could exacerbate arthritis symptoms. When living with chronic arthritis, you should be mindful of a few things.

Smoking harms just about every part of the body, including your joints. If you’re living with arthritis, it’s essential to quit smoking as soon as possible to control inflammation and pain.

Although exercise is crucial to managing arthritis pain, a little goes a long way. You don’t want to overdo it and cause more joint damage. Avoid high-impact activities like running, jumping, or contact sports to keep arthritis from worsening.

Arthritis is as much of a mental challenge as a physical one. It’s important not to dwell on your pain, as it can lead to negative thinking and depression. Keep active, and remember, you’re doing what you can to manage symptoms.

Don’t hesitate to call one of our offices in McKinney and Prosper, Texas, for arthritis treatment. You can also contact our team on our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Snow to discuss treatment options.