ACHES & PAINS

Many of our attendees suffer from aches and pains which sometimes can be caused by arthritis. 

Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis. It is what is known as an auto-immune condition.(VERSUS ARTHRITIS)

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can include:

swollen and tender joints

swelling and stiffness in joints in the morning that lasts for longer than half an hour

severe tiredness, also called fatigue

a general feeling of being unwell.

We have put together a few strategies you can use to help manage the painful condition of rheumatoid arthritis

• Certain home remedies and lifestyle adjustments may help to improve your quality of life when living with RA. This includes exercise, rest, and assistive devices.

• Exercise

Low-impact and gentle exercises can help to improve the range of motion in your joints and increase your mobility. Exercise can also strengthen muscles, which can help to relieve some of the pressure from your joints. In addition, resistance exercises such as working with a low weight or dynaband can help to improve your bone density. Exercising will help you to maintain a healthy weight which can ease symptoms and it releases endorphins those fantastic feel good hormones than can act like a pain killer-amazing!

• You may also want to try gentle yoga which can help you regain strength and flexibility and make you less likely to get stiff when moving. Also subjects such as tai chi will help to strengthen the joints and help you to manage pain caused through arthritis which can help to improve your well-being. Brisk walking is also a great form of gentle exercise
• Get enough rest. Exercising little and often will help to improve your sleep and allow the body to repair itself.

You may need more rest during flare-ups and less during remission. Getting enough sleep will help to reduce inflammation and pain as well as fatigue.

• Apply heat or cold

Ice packs or cold compresses can help to reduce inflammation and pain. They may also be effective against muscle spasms.

You can alternate cold with hot treatments such as warm showers and hot compresses. This may help to reduce stiffness. A hot water bottle sometimes can help to relieve pain in a joint such as the knee and provide comfort.

• Try assistive devices

Certain devices such as splints and braces can hold your joints in a resting position. This may help to reduce inflammation.

• Canes and crutches can help you maintain mobility, even during flares. You can also install household devices, such as grab bars and handrails in bathrooms and along staircases.

• Eating a balanced diet and maintaining your intake of

CALCIUM

VITAMIN D

IRON

OMEGA 3

FIBRE

VIT A,C,E,K

Will have a positive impact on your condition-we will look at this in further detail next time