Alternative medicine (1)
- Tai chi: A gentle way to fight stress
Lifestyle and home remedies (6)
- Rheumatoid arthritis pain: Tips for protecting your joints
- Arthritis pain: Do's and don'ts
- Exercise helps ease arthritis pain and stiffness
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Treatments and drugs (2)
- Prednisone and other corticosteroids
- Arthritis pain: Creams and gels for aching joints
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Arthritis pain: Do's and don'ts
Will physical activity reduce or increase your arthritis pain? Get tips on exercise and other common concerns when coping with arthritis symptoms and arthritis pain.
By Mayo Clinic staffYou get all kinds of advice about exercise, medication and stress reduction, but how do you know what will work best for you? Here are some do's and don'ts to help you figure it out.
Basics
Whatever your condition, you'll have an easier time staying ahead of your pain if you:
- Talk to your doctor about all your symptoms, arthritis related or not. Sometimes seemingly unrelated problems are, in fact, connected.
- Give your doctor complete information about all your medical conditions, not just arthritis.
- Ask your doctor for a clear definition of the type of arthritis you have.
- Find out whether any of your joints are already damaged.
Everyday routines
Do some gentle exercise in the evening; you'll feel less stiff in the morning. When you're technically doing nothing — watching TV or sitting at your desk, for instance — be sure to:
- Adjust your position frequently.
- Periodically tilt your neck from side to side, change the position of your hands, and bend and stretch your legs.
- Pace yourself. Take breaks so that you don't overuse a joint and cause more pain.
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References
- Dray A. New horizons in pharmacologic treatment for rheumatic disease pain. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;34:481.
- Keefe FJ, et al. Psychologic interventions and lifestyle modifications for arthritis pain management. Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;34:351.
- Kroenke K, et al. Pharmacotherapy of chronic pain: A synthesis of recommendations from systematic reviews. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2009;31:206.
- Lorig KR. Arthritis self-management. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/149558304-3/862417648/1807/425.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10061-0--s0020_2111. Accessed July 11, 2011.
- Muller D. Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/149558304-3/862417648/1494/95.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50052-1--cesec3_2475. Accessed July 11, 2011.
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