A good way to start is with low-impact exercise. Walking, swimming or participating in water aerobics classes are low-impact activities that are enjoyable and kind to your joints. Depending on your pace, they can also help with aerobic conditioning.
It's common to have stiff and painful joints in the morning, making it difficult to get up and start the day. Everyday chores like cooking, laundry, cleaning, garden work and recreational activities can become a challenge as the disease progresses.
Take a long, warm shower every morning. To ease stiffness even more, do some simple stretches while the water warms your muscles and joints. Shrug your shoulders, roll your neck, and circle your wrists. If it's hard to balance, use a shower chair and stretch while seated.
Optimal care of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consists of an integrated approach that includes both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies. Many nonpharmacologic treatments are available for this disease, including exercise, diet, massage, counseling, stress reduction, physical therapy, and surgery.
Slow, gentle, flowing exercises like Pilates, tai chi, and yoga help boost your balance and flexibility. They may even ease your pain. Research by the Arthritis Foundation shows that yoga poses, breathing, and relaxation lower joint tenderness and swelling for some people with RA.
Researchers think it's caused by a combination of genetics, hormones and environmental factors. Normally, your immune system protects your body from disease. With rheumatoid arthritis, something triggers your immune system to attack your joints. An infection, smoking or physical or emotional stress may be triggering.
Pain. The joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is usually a throbbing and aching pain. It is often worse in the mornings and after a period of inactivity.
Rest will make inflamed joints feel more comfortable, but without movement your joints will stiffen and your muscles will become weaker. Find the best activities and the right balance for you. It's usually best to increase the amount of exercise you do gradually.
Elevate Your Legs and Find the Right Position
It can be helpful to slide a pillow under your knees, if you sleep on your back, to alleviate pressure on knee joints, hips, and back while you sleep. If you're a side sleeper, place a pillow or two between your knees, advises the Arthritis Foundation.
As with OA, the joint stiffness that's a hallmark of the RA tends to be worse in the morning or after periods of inactivity. Therefore, sedentary habits, like sitting for hours at a desk, can exacerbate these symptoms and lead to even greater swelling and joint problems.
People with rheumatoid arthritis typically have several permanently inflamed joints. The inflammation inside the body can lead to general physical weakness, drowsiness and exhaustion. This feeling of extreme tiredness is also called "fatigue." Some people find this to be the worst symptom of the disease.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: Tender, warm, swollen joints. Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity. Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.
At the height of your flare, you may need complete bed rest. Your body may not give you any choice. But try not to stay in bed for more than a day or two. Spending too much time lying on the bed or sofa will make you stiff and increase your pain.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) If you've been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, you'll usually be offered a combination of DMARD tablets as part of your initial treatment. These medicines ease the symptoms of the condition and slow down its progression.
Take Your Medication
Medications to treat RA include: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone. Conventional DMARDs, which can slow RA progression and possibly save the joints from permanent damage.
1. NSAIDs. Most people with RA are advised to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to decrease pain and inflammation. NSAIDs are sold over-the-counter, under such names as Advil and Aleve, as well as by prescription, under names such as Mobic and Celebrex.
Supplements. Research from 2017 also recommends people living with RA eat probiotic yogurt and spices like turmeric and ginger, which have anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, the results of multiple studies suggest that turmeric and curcumin can prevent and combat inflammation.
Overexertion, poor sleep, stress or an infection like the flu can all set off RA symptoms. With a predictable flare you'll temporarily feel worse, but your symptoms will resolve in time. Unpredictable flares have more uncertainty associated with them.
Red meat and processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats and cured meats. Refined grains, including white bread, white rice, pasta and breakfast cereals. Snack foods, including chips, cookies, crackers and pastries.
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.
Grapefruit juice can, however, interact with some medicines that doctors use to treat arthritis. People who are undergoing treatment should check with a doctor before incorporating it into their diet.