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Life with rheumatoid arthritis becomes difficult. The mornings start with pain and stiffness. Everyday chores like cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc., become challenging due to fatigue, pain, joint swelling, and decreased mobility. You may also experience memory issues.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis becomes easier when you make little lifestyle changes. Some of the things to understand about this condition and ways to improve your quality of life with rheumatoid arthritis are as follows:
Your family and loved ones may be unable to understand what you are going through because the symptoms develop over time and may not be visible in the early stages. Explain how this condition impacts your emotional, mental, and physical health. This way, they will also be able to support you.
While the initial symptoms might be pain and swelling in the joints, you may experience many other changes as you age. These changes could be:
It is possible to have another medical condition called Lupus, together with RA. Lupus also has similar joint-related symptoms, but other symptoms include:
Since both conditions are similar, the treatment might also be identical.
RA can increase the risk of fibromyalgia. Both conditions have similar symptoms, with the difference that fibromyalgia causes constant pain and does not worsen over time. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
Fibromyalgia symptoms may be managed by getting enough sleep, managing stress, and meditating.
Regular exercises help with pain management. Start with low intensity and then increase it once you get comfortable. If you are new to exercise, consult your doctor to learn about the activities you can do for joint pain relief.
RA brings along fatigue and weakness. Performing a simple routine task or exercising too much could also make you feel exhausted. In such situations, listen to what your body says and ensure you get the rest your body needs. If it is not urgent, postpone the task to another day and replace your workout with a gentle exercise.
Excessive fatigue can make it more difficult to concentrate or recall information, leading to brain fog. You can ease brain fog by:
Stress may worsen your condition. Regular exercise and relaxation can help you manage stress. Taking a short walk, meditation, and listening to relaxing music can help you lower your stress levels.
If the effects of your condition become overwhelming, it is beneficial to reach out to a mental health professional. They can help you find solutions to anger, fear, hopelessness, etc., arising from RA. Engaging in a one-on-one session especially helps if there are things that you cannot talk about with your family members.
Many people suffer from RA and experience similar feelings as you do. Talking with them will help you understand that you are not alone on this journey. It will make you feel more connected, and you may learn more ways to manage RA.
Extra body weight puts more pressure on the bones, worsens the symptoms, and increases the risk of RA progression. Losing weight will relieve your bones of this unwanted pressure and reduce pain in your hips, knees, and back.
Although no cure is available for rheumatoid arthritis, eating a healthy diet may help you reduce inflammation and pain. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, and fish are all great for good health, but there are some foods you should avoid with rheumatoid arthritis because they can increase inflammation. If you have RA, limit or avoid these foods:
RA’s inflammation may spread to other internal organs, including your heart and lungs, so it is very important to monitor the health of these vital organs. Things you may do to reduce the risk of heart and lungs disease are:
The objective of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to relieve pain and other symptoms and to stop this condition from progressing. Visit your doctor regularly to monitor your progress and adjust treatment accordingly. Early diagnosis and subsequent treatment may help in RA remission, and this could cause less pain and fewer affected joints.
Rehab Store carries various products to help relieve the pain and discomfort of rheumatoid arthritis. Some of our top sellers are
These anatomically shaped gloves provide compression along with comfort to the wearer. The patented Trioxon lining provides insulation and wicks away moisture via air circulation.
Eases pain in the thigh and upper calf. It has a sleek design that does not obstruct and enables the user to wear shorts comfortably. Four durable straps fit around the leg comfortably and protect from injury-causing external force.
Designed to provide relief for arthritic hands and edema, this glove has an open slit for easy application. The external seams allow swelling control and keep the hands free to perform any tasks.
Performs the dual function of supporting the thumb and allowing full finger motion. It has a neo loop strap material that specifically provides additional support to the wrist.
Ideal support for knee pain, this knee cage is made of lightweight, vinyl-coated aluminum that molds easily. It has an adjustable posterior pressure back, so the frame does not hurt at the back of the knee.
Keep track of your symptoms. Be open with your loved ones about RA's impact on you. Make them aware of how you feel and the emotional, mental, and physical stress it causes. Small lifestyle changes can significantly help you manage this condition.
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