| Rheumatoid arthritis is not caused by aging, instead this | | | | heat pack or compresses. Another step that can help |
| condition is caused when your immune system starts | | | | minimize your discomfort is to exercise as much as |
| to attack your joints for an unknown reason. When | | | | you can within your specific physical limitations. If you |
| your immune system attacks these areas inflammation | | | | do not use the joints then they will start to stiffen up, |
| results, and this causes pain, problems with joint | | | | increasing the pain every time you move them. |
| movement and function, tissue and bone damage, | | | | Exercises for range of motion in each joint will prevent |
| deformities, and even fatigue and a higher | | | | this, and help decrease your pain in the long term. |
| temperature. This fever affects the entire body, not | | | | If you have rheumatoid arthritis it is important that you |
| just the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can be extremely | | | | stay positive and upbeat as much as possible. Your |
| painful, and affects all ages and ethnic backgrounds. | | | | mental attitude plays a big part in the pain you |
| Because of the pain, which can be debilitating at times, | | | | experience, and depression can cause pain to be felt |
| many people take narcotic pain medications or other | | | | more severely. If you start to feel down or have |
| drugs to become more comfortable and increase their | | | | negative thoughts make a conscious effort to reverse |
| movement ability. It is possible to manage the pain of | | | | this thinking pattern and try to look at any positive |
| this condition without harmful drugs though, and using | | | | things in your life. Laughter is an excellent way to |
| alternative methods can be just as effective at | | | | minimize pain from rheumatoid arthritis, and this has |
| relieving your symptoms and pain as anything your | | | | been scientifically proven regardless of the cause of |
| doctor can prescribe. In addition there are no risky side | | | | the pain. When you laugh your brain releases |
| effects or mental dullness that pain medication may | | | | chemicals which minimize the pain impulses and |
| include with drug free treatments. | | | | improve your mood, making the pain seem much more |
| One very effective technique that can help with | | | | manageable. Fill your life with people who make you |
| rheumatoid arthritis involves the use of heat and cold | | | | laugh and help you stay in a positive frame of mind. |
| compresses or packs. Applying heat or cold to the | | | | Other treatments that do not involve drugs can include |
| joints that are affected can give you some relief, and | | | | massage, acupuncture, relaxation techniques and |
| the choice will depend on whether the pain is acute or | | | | training, electrical stimulation which increases the natural |
| chronic. A general guideline is that cold compresses | | | | endorphins released by your brain, topical applications |
| and ice packs will work best if you suffer from acute | | | | which will decrease the pain sensitivity of the nerves, |
| pain, while chronic pain will usually respond better to a | | | | and others. |