Living with arthritis can come with its own set of challenges that go way beyond its painful symptoms. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that living a better life despite the diagnosis is impossible. While at first the situation can seem hopeless, the truth is that with care, support, and certain lifestyle changes, living a normal life is completely possible. The team at Space City Pain understands what living with this condition means and how it can affect your quality of life, that’s why here are some recommendations for patients in Webster, Texas.
Demystifying Arthritis
There are over 100 different types of arthritis, some of the most common include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and psoriatic arthritis. While most of them are often associated with joint inflammation and pain, some of them can also impact organs, cause stiffness, and even disability. This chronic condition affects around 21.2% of adults in the U.S., and while some could think that it just affects elders, the truth is that anyone can develop it, even children.
Challenges of Living With Chronic Pain in Webster, Texas
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 4,398,000 people in Texas have the condition. Of these people, reports show important percentages of physical inactivity (33.5%), poor self-rated health status (37.56%), and severe joint pain (36%).
In Texas, living with conditions that cause chronic pain or inflammation, can come with its own set of challenges aside from specific symptoms related to the condition. Some aspects to consider that can add to the challenge in areas like Webster, Texas, are:
Weather Changes
Living in warm weather is preferable than living in cold environments. However, the typical weather changes of Texas can have a negative impact on your joints, since changes in pressure can cause the tissues near them to react and cause pain.
Extreme Temperatures
The extreme heat and humidity of Webster, Texas can be a cause of pain and also lead to dehydration risks. Both of these factors can trigger flare-ups or cause tissues to expand in inflammatory types of this condition.
Sedentary Lifestyle
The extreme temperatures can also contribute to patients becoming inactive, whether because of the heat or because of the pain caused by it. Low mobility in chronic conditions like this, weakens supporting muscles and can accelerate joint deterioration.
5 Lifestyle Changes for Living with Arthritis
Although it’s a common diagnosis, arthritis is often misunderstood, with some people believing that it’s just pain and others that the only way to find relief is through painkillers. However, treating it goes far beyond pain medication, it’s also about lifestyle changes and conscious decision making that support a life without pain despite the diagnosis. Here are 5 recommendations to improve your quality of life:
1. Stay Hydrated in Webster, Texas
Staying hydrated is essential to maintain the overall health for everyone, but it’s of particular importance for patients who suffer from this condition in Webster, Texas. This is because being dehydrated contributes to exacerbating symptoms or even triggering flare-ups. Staying hydrated plays a key role in managing pain, because it can help to keep joints lubricated and promotes better circulation, which supports mobility and improves inflammatory response. Additionally, drinking enough water can help joints by reducing friction, improving movement, and ensuring that they remain cushioned.
2. Maintain Physical Activity
Staying physically active is generally advised to everyone who wishes to protect their wellness and live long-healthy lives. This recommendation also goes for people with joint pain, particularly, because it helps patients with this condition. For instance, it helps keep their joints flexible, strengthens muscles, as well as reducing pain and stiffness. Additionally, it can be helpful to manage weight, support your mental health, and boost your energy.
As you can see, being physically active can be highly beneficial for you and help improve your quality of life considerably. But not every exercise is suitable for patients with this chronic condition. Some recommendations about exercising by the experts at Space City Pain include:
Try
- Low-impact aerobic activities
- Stretching exercises
- Water exercises
- Strength training
Avoid
- High-impact aerobic activities
- Deep or aggressive stretches
- Repetitive motions
- Heavy weightlifting
👉 Always listen to your body while exercising and don’t force movements, since it could cause more harm than good.
3. Treat Your Condition
Treating your joints includes taking the recommended medications, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Nowadays, there are several options and alternatives available when it comes to treating this chronic condition. Some alternatives include:
- Regenerative medicine: Non-surgical procedures that use your own body’s ability to heal to trigger a healing response in joints.
- Nimbus radiofrequency ablation: A minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that interrupts pain signals.
- Alternative treatments: Special creams and gels that disrupt pain signals from your joints and reduce inflammation.
4. Take Care of Your Emotional Health
Paying attention to your emotional and mental health is also essential when it comes to managing symptoms. This is because stress, anxiety, or depression can alter the pain threshold and worsen the inflammatory response. If sustained, this becomes a vicious cycle where symptoms are exacerbated by the negative effects of your mood. While living with conditions like this can be difficult enough, finding ways to manage the impact they have on your mental health is essential. Some recommendations include learning and practicing relaxation techniques, finding psychological support, and prioritizing good quality sleep.
5. Identify and Avoid Your Triggers
You’re probably already familiar with flare-ups. These are periods where symptoms worsen and medications can’t seem to work on them. You most likely want to avoid them at all costs, and that’s where identifying and understanding your triggers plays an essential role.
Typical triggers include poor sleep, stress, overexertion, weather changes, or infections. But, arthritis triggers vary significantly, not only by the specific type of this condition, but also from person to person. That’s why it’s essential to identify, understand, and avoid your triggers.
Related: What Makes Arthritis Worse? 7 Habits to Avoid in Webster, Texas
FAQ
At what age does arthritis typically start?
The onset depends mainly on the type, while for some patients it can begin after the age of 50, for others it can strike as early as children under the age of 16.
Is walking good for arthritis pain?
Yes, walking is a low-impact exercise with reduced risk that is highly recommended for patients, since it helps strengthen the muscles and takes pressure from hips and knees.
Does arthritis pain ever stop?
While it is an on-going condition, that does not mean that pain has to be permanent or constant. Symptoms can be kept under control, minimized, or even put into long-term remission with proper management strategies.
Find Relief From Arthritis Pain in Webster, Texas
Finding relief from arthritis pain is an essential aspect of improving your quality of life. If you live in Webster, Texas, and are looking for innovative ways to treat this chronic condition, the team of pain specialists at Space City Pain can help you with that. Contact us to start walking a life free of pain.
