Arthritis is a chronic disease, and people who suffer with some form of it have to make many adjustments to their lifestyle, in order to have a good quality of life while they cope with the pain and stiffness brought on by their condition. There are many things a person can do if they have a form of arthritis, to make their lives better. Let’s look at a few of them.

Look on the Sunny Side of Life

It’s a cliché, I know, but taking a positive attitude towards life in general, and living with arthritis in particular, makes all the difference in the world to your quality of life. Being able to stay positive allows you to make the adjustments necessary to treat your disease. Mind and body therapies are available, and most of them can be done at home, with herbs from your garden, and setting aside a place to meditate.

Take a Walk

It doesn’t have to be on the wild side, but walking is a great exercise for arthritic patients. Gentle walking, so as not to overstress your joints, keeps the joints in motion, and exercises the weight-bearing bones and muscles to boot. Walking is aerobic, even a gentle walk, so you’re moving oxygen and blood to all of your cells, improving the cells’ ability to function. Aerobic exercise is sometimes known as “cardio”- exercise that requires pumping of oxygenated blood by the heart to deliver oxygen to working muscles.

Move to the Beat

Exercise, in all forms – range of motion, isotonic, isometric, strength-training and aerobic – keep your muscles and joints active. As a sufferer from arthritis myself, I know how hard it is to keep moving when your joints are stiff and painful. I also know that stopping is the worst thing you can do – once you quit moving, it’s practically impossible to start. So, move – put on some music and dance! Get a Jane Fonda video and work out. Try some Tae Bo. Go up and down your stairs multiple times. As the Nike slogan says, Just Do It!

Keep a Journal

This seems like a no-brainer, but most of us don’t like writing a journal. However, when trying to formulate a treatment plan that works for you, a journal is a necessity. Arthritis flare-ups can be triggered by many things – stress, certain foods, certain medications, to name a few; if you don’t keep track of what you’re doing, what you’re taking, or what you’re eating, you’ll have a really tough time isolating what does, and what does not, work for you in the long run.

Work Out a Diet

Arthritis Home Care – Helpful Hints & Tips

Many arthritis sufferers have flare-ups brought on by foods. High on the suspicious list is gluten, wheat, organ meats, and shellfish. You might think about becoming a lacto-ova vegetarian for a while. You can get protein from this type of diet, and there is evidence that calcium (from the dairy) and the omega fatty acids (from the eggs) may provide significant relief from your symptoms.

Watch Your Garden Grow

Your herb garden, that is. Herbs have been used as medicines for centuries, and have stood the test of scientific scrutiny. Growing them yourself, you know what pesticides were used in the process, and they’re right there, available when you need them. Herbs for arthritis include turmeric, ginger, Balm of Gilead, Devil’s Claw, Cat Claw, Boswella, Chamomile, and others. Lavender is helpful as a stress reliever, and for headaches. The list goes on. The Internet is a great place to research herbs and their properties, to find information on how to grow them, and on how to prepare them for use.

Start with your keyboard, and after you’ve educated yourself at least a little, find a knowledgeable person to help you as you prepare a plot, plant your herbs, and harvest them. Gardening is also a great exercise, and a great stress reliever.

Conclusion

Living with arthritis – regardless of the form it takes – is a painful process. Learn how to be proactive, and take charge of your disease. Don’t let arthritis take charge of you – start with your own home, and draw up a plan for living as comfortably as you can, and then do it!