Osteoarthritis. Driving in the same position repeatedly can put a lot of wear and pain on your kneecaps. Over time, the cartilage may wear down and result in a type of arthritis known as osteoarthritis. For long-distance drivers, osteoarthritis may occur over time due to the natural stop and go of traffic stops.
There are several ways that arthritis can make driving more difficult, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH): 1. Joint pain and stiffness can make it harder to do basic driving functions like turning your head to look back or check your blind spot, turning the steering wheel quickly, or braking safely.
Many people with Osteoarthritis struggle drive as it can become difficult to: Turn your neck fully when looking to pull out at a junction or reversing. Turning the steering wheel as far or quickly as you need.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Research shows that you should avoid certain foods and beverages, including highly processed foods, red meat, fried foods, and those rich in added sugars. Keep in mind that lifestyle factors like your activity level, body weight, and smoking status are also vital to managing arthritis.
Yet a CDC study shows that severe joint pain is more common among adults with arthritis who are physically inactive. Physical inactivity is more common among adults with arthritis who live in states in the Southeast and are disabled or unable to work.
Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you do experience pain or you're very stiff afterwards try doing a bit less, factor in more rest and check in with your GP, if you need to.
Pushing through pain is not the thing to do. If your joints are hot or swollen, exercise can increase the damage and cause more pain. Remember, arthritis pain and pain from a strenuous workout are not the same. A little soreness a day or two after a workout is OK.
If you have rheumatoid arthritis, balance rest and exercise carefully: rest more to reduce inflammation, pain, and fatigue when your condition flares up, and exercise more when it calms down. Short rest breaks help more than long periods in bed.
"Doing nothing, regardless of what type of arthritis you have, is going to make your arthritis worse," says Cote. On rest days, he recommends gentle exercises that increase flexibility for arthritic joints.
Give it a rest.
However, when you are experiencing a flare, sometimes the best thing you can do for your arthritis is rest and allow your body to recharge. Finding balance between activity and rest is especially important during a flare.
Heat and cold. Use of heat, such as applying heating pads to aching joints, taking hot baths or showers, or immersing painful joints in warm paraffin wax, can help relieve pain temporarily. Be careful not to burn yourself. Use heating pads for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
NSAIDs are the most effective oral medicines for OA. They include ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) naproxen (Aleve) and diclofenac (Voltaren, others). All work by blocking enzymes that cause pain and swelling.
But whether it's mild or severe, you can take some steps to ease the joint pain and swelling by resting it, applying an ice or heat pack and taking an over-the-counter analgesic, like acetaminophen (Tylenol), or NSAID, like ibuprofen or naproxen.
Use hot and cold therapy
Heat and cold treatments can help relieve arthritis pain and inflammation. Heat treatments can include taking a long, warm shower or bath in the morning to help ease stiffness and using an electric blanket or moist heating pad to reduce discomfort overnight.
Medicines that can help with flares include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), either prescription or over-the-counter. You may take them as a pill or put them on your skin. Acetaminophen helps some people. Your doctor may also inject steroids into your joints.
What does the law say about driving with arthritis? You only need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about your arthritis if: it's affecting your ability to drive. you use special controls for driving.
How quickly does OA progress? Experts confirm that once OA starts, it may take years to reach a severe stage. However, in extreme cases, OA progresses rapidly to complete the destruction of the cartilage within a few months.
An OA flare-up can last from one or two days to a week or more. If you suspect you are going through a flare-up episode, it is crucial to seek medical attention before the symptoms worsen. What does an OA flare-up feel like?
Physiotherapy is an important part of treatment for most people with arthritis. Physiotherapists are part of a team of healthcare professionals who help you to resume or maintain an active and independent life both at home and work. They're experts in assessing movement and can also show you how to protect your joints.
Both heat and cold therapy may help ease symptoms of arthritis. Heat may help relieve aches and stiffness, while cold therapy may help ease swelling and pain. Applying heat or cold to affected parts of the body may help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of arthritis.
You can't reverse your arthritis, but certain treatments can help slow the progression of the disease and help you manage your condition. Getting the right kind of treatment can ease your pain and help you maintain or even improve function, which will enable you to carry out daily activities.