|
News Releases
Getting a Grip on Arthritis
Columbia, Mo. (June 27, 2007) - Arthritis can make simple daily tasks difficult and complicated. And make juggling family life and work even more exhausting.
"Life on its own can be challenging and stressful," says Karen Smarr, Ph.D., psychologist and clinical researcher, Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Columbia, MO and principal investigator for the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. "Yet a person with arthritis faces the additional stress of a chronic illness. They must manage an unpredictable disease course, including chronic pain and physical disability."
"Effective coping with arthritis includes a maintaining a healthy lifestyle for physical and psychological well-being," says Smarr. "Behaviors related to nutrition, weight management, physical activity, smoking, sleep, relaxation, and fatigue management are all key aspects of self-care for persons with arthritis."
The Arthritis Foundation offers a few suggestions on comfortable living for people with arthritis. Some of the suggestions are simple things that you need to do just once, while others are based on long-term goals.
- Pay attention to symptoms. If you have pain, stiffness or swelling in or around a joint for more than two weeks, it's time to see your doctor. These symptoms can develop suddenly or slowly. Only a doctor can tell if it's arthritis. Ask for a specific diagnosis of the type of arthritis you have. There are more than 100 types, each of which has different treatments. Getting the right treatment requires getting the right diagnosis.
- Protect your joints. Avoid excess stress on your joints. Use larger or stronger joints to carry things. Assistive devices can make tasks at home and work easier. Staying close to your recommended weight also helps relieve damaging pressure on hips and knees.
- Get moving. Exercise helps lessen the pain, increases range of movement, reduces fatigue and helps you feel better overall. Your doctor or a physical therapist can show you range-of-motion exercises and strengthening exercises that are good for arthritis.
- Face the facts. Learn something new about arthritis. Building an understanding of your disease is an important step in managing it.
- Bone up. Stock up on your favorite source of calcium. A diet rich in this important mineral can help decrease your risk of osteoporosis. If you don't like drinking milk - or want some variety - try consuming more milk products, such as yogurt, cheese and ice cream. Other good sources of calcium: broccoli, salmon (with the bones) and kale.
- Do drugs - the right way. Take your medication just as your doctor prescribes. If you're tempted to stop because you feel it's not working or you believe it's causing side effects, call your doctor first. It can take weeks - or even months - for the full benefits of a medication to become apparent, and some side effects ease over time.
Getting diagnosed with arthritis can be a life changing event. Don't let it rule your life. Take some time to find out what changes you can make to really improve your well-being. Get a firm grip on your diagnosis.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
|
|
