Arthritis is a very common disease, but it is not fully understood. Many people of varied ages and backgrounds have arthritis. According to Arthritis Ireland, ‘around 915,000 people, including 1 in every 1,000 children, are living with arthritis, making it the single biggest cause of disability’.

It is crucial to increase public understanding of this disorder, and help those with arthritis to live as normal a life as possible. Here are a few ways to make living with arthritis easier for the patient and their loved ones.

1. Regular Rest and Exercise

 

Arthritis affects the joints of the body. If you keep your joints moving and strengthen the muscles supporting the joints, then you can limit the pain in the joints and lessen the worst symptoms of arthritis.

2. Supporting Medication

 

People who are diagnosed with Arthritis are often given prescription medicines. These medicines are given for a reason. Although there is no known cure for arthritis, some medicines can help relieve symptoms significantly. It is important that arthritis medicines are taken on time and as prescribed by your GP or consultant.

3. Hot or Cold Packs

 

A hot or cold pack can help ease the pain and swelling that marks an arthritis attack. All you need to do is apply the pack to the painful area and it will relieve pain and swelling. This daily living product can help you get through the pain and back to normal activities.

4. Use Level Handles for Doors

One of the most common obstacles that people suffering arthritis have is opening normal doorknobs. This is because the joints and rotation required to open the door are often negatively affected by arthritis. It may be better to switch to lever handles as they can be easier to open compared to normal doorknobs.

To improve your movement around the house and facilitate some of your daily tasks, equip yourself with living aids. These products can really help make your life easier.

5. Lose the Weight, Ease the Pain

 

More weight means more stress on the back, knees, and feet. These three body parts are often problem areas for arthritis. The extra pounds translate to extra weight those three parts have to carry. Less weight means less arthritis pain.

6. Pain Relieving Creams and Sprays

 

Arthritis patients usually have one common complaint: the inability to carry out daily activities due to the pain. There is a daily living product that can help when the pain strikes. These medications are in the form of a cream and spray. Both are equally effective methods to ease the pain in an arthritis patient.

7. Knowing and Admitting You Need Help

 

Arthritis may be incurable for now but there are still things that can be done to ease your suffering. The first step is to admit that there is something wrong and seek help. Living with arthritis can sometimes be very challenging. Pain follows every move and you are not able to do manual tasks around your place.

These simple lifestyle changes and daily medications that can help relieve symptoms and make life worth living.

Andy Caton is a writer and blogger for Patient Handling. He is also a film photographer, filmmaker, and a poet. He wants to be more compassionate not just for the elderly but to all humanity as well. He knows that he’ll grow old too one day and he wants to share his blessings to as many people as possible

2 comments

  1. Margaret Ennis

    At 83 living alone finding it hard to manage household tasks as walking has become very difficult Doctor has told me it is degeneration, but sometimes life becomes very tiresome I also suffer with COPD

  2. Hi Margaret.

    We’re very sorry to hear of your situation. It must be very hard for you.

    There are some excellent free helplines available which might prove valuable for you in seeking assistance and facing these challenges. You can find them here: https://seniorcare2017.wpengine.com/helplines-information-services/

    Let us know if we can help in any other way.

    Conor

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