How to Cope with Rheumatoid Arthritis in Practical Ways

Rheumatoid arthritis can be painful, but it does not have to keep you from enjoying life! As a RA patient for 15 years, I have tried and tested many different methods for coping with this condition every day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Find a Physician: First, you must find a physician who is knowledgeable about RA. I strongly recommend going to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in arthritic conditions. He or she will likely test you for all different types of arthritis when you first come to the office, which is a good thing because you may be suffering from an obscure form of arthritis or a type that can be cured with medication (ex. Lyme's disease). It is vital to know what type of arthritis you have in order to successfully treat it.
   
   Be vigilant in your search for a good doctor. He or she must be:
   a) willing to listen to your questions
   b) competent in giving you medical care
   c) aggressive in treating your RA
   d) knowledgeable about the newest arthritis treatments
   
   If the first 2 or 3 doctors fall short in any of these areas, or for some other reason you just don't feel comfortable with them, keep looking until you find the right rhematologist for you. It may cost a bit more in the beginning (in the form of insurance copays), but the value to your quality of life and the preservation of your joints will be immeasurable.

2. Medication: It may be necessary, under your physician's care, for you to try several different medications before finding one(s) that work for you. My rheumatologist has always said that pain and swelling are signs of inflammation, which in turn is a sign of joint damage. If you are taking your prescribed medications on schedule and not seeing significant changes, talk to your doctor about trying something new until you find one that works.

3. Diet: Eat a healthy, balanced diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. As a registered dietitian, I have researched and tried different dietary approaches to see if any of them would improve my condition and help with joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue. The one that has worked the best for me is to follow a mostly vegan diet with absolutely NO dairy products (see the book The China Study by T. Colin Campbell for more info). Just a suggestion: try it for 6 weeks and see if you have any improvement. It has been a great help to me and a totally natural way to help my body.

4. Rest: This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself! Everyone is different when it comes to rest. If you need a nap during the day to have enough energy for the afternoon and evening, then schedule it into your day to make sure you get it. I need 8-9 hours of sleep at night (and this has gone up from 7 hours just a couple of years ago) to avoid feeling totally worn out during the day, and I've learned to be protective of my sleep to get those hours in. Fatigue can be dramatic for RA patients, and rest is so important to avoid further fatigue and the emotional and physical problems that come with it.

5. Exercise: After rest, exercise is probably the next most important issue. Get some form of physical activity in every single day. Start with stretching. RA can cause persistent stiffness, and stretching will do so much to help you combat it and feel better. A simple 10-minute stretch in the morning helps me to feel more flexible all day.
   
   Low-impact exercise is the best type for people with RA: walking, swimming, yoga, pilates, and walking on a treadmill or elliptical machine are all great forms of exercise to give you more energy and maintain a healthy body weight. Don't overdo it, though - start with 5 or 10 minutes and work up to however long you can exercise without feeling worn out the next day.
   
   Weight training: Whether you are 25 or 65, weight training is important if you have RA. When you strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints, stress is taken off of the joints themselves. Use a moderate weight - you should be able to do 10-12 repetitions at a time.

6. Balance is the KEY in dealing with RA! A proper balance between rest and exercise, combined with a good rheumatologist, a healthy diet, and taking your medication on schedule, are the absolute keys to successfuly handling your condition and enjoying your life for many years to come.

[tracysmith159]

on 7/16/2009 Good article. That is the best way to deal with RA. Living without insurance is very difficult as the bills can easily go into the thousands.

[delawaregeek]

on 5/14/2009 My mother has suffers from RA thanks or all the helpful information.