| Here are some of the tips I accumulated over the | | | | latest MP3 (even though you might need to get your |
| years that are simple, yet effective and all are easy | | | | grandkids to show you how to use it), listen to your |
| to do. | | | | favorite music and go out for a walk. Try something |
| Don't Exercise | | | | new, start a new hobby, laugh more, read a new |
| Not really (read below), but do pay attention to | | | | book, overcome the fear of a computers ...etc. |
| overstressing the joints. With arthritis, "Pain is NOT | | | | anything that will make your overall self perception |
| gain!". Be careful to allow joints sufficient time to | | | | positive. As advanced as our medicine is, we are only |
| rebuild and stretch before doing anything that will | | | | now finding out the true power that our emotions, |
| place stress on them. One of the most useful pieces | | | | especially positive emotions, have on our wellbeing. |
| of advise is to maintain your own weight - keep it | | | | Any "trick" that you can do to raise your mental |
| constant. Weight affects the pressure on hips and | | | | attitude, will work wonders at slowing or even |
| knees, which are critical to overall body movement. | | | | eliminating arthritic effects, let alone give your |
| Exercise | | | | immune system a boost of energy. |
| Despite the warnings (above) movement is the | | | | Eat Right |
| number one "force" to slow down the effects of | | | | There are three meals in a day. The most important |
| arthritis. The exercise regime that works is the one | | | | one is breakfast. Don't skip it or circumvent it with |
| that provides for the maximum amount of range of | | | | garbage food. Instead, opt for some fruit, fiber |
| motion. Contact your doctor or search the web, | | | | cereal (oatmeal), maybe some water (try to cut |
| there are a number of resources that provide | | | | down on coffee) and a nice magazine. There are |
| diagrams of excellent range-of-motion exercises that | | | | hundreds, if not thousands of sources of good |
| really, really work. | | | | breakfast ideas that you can use to spice your |
| Grab that Citrus | | | | breakfast experience. Do it, its important for your |
| Oranges, orange juice and other citrus fruits are an | | | | body and your positive mental attitude. |
| excellent source of both Vitamin C and especially | | | | Drugs |
| antioxidants, which have been shown over and over | | | | Try to avoid them, as much as you can. Don't go |
| again to reduce effects of osteoarthritis and its | | | | overboard either, but if there is a choice of a |
| progression. In addition to building up your immune | | | | quick-fix using drugs or some exercise, opt for the |
| system, they fight arthritic effects, taste great and | | | | later. In the long run, the exercise effects will start to |
| are excellent source of folic acid, which has numerous | | | | accumulate and you will find less need for medicine. |
| positive effect for the body. | | | | Having said that, treat drugs with respect. Know |
| Work | | | | what you are taking and why. Listen to your own |
| Gardening, shopping, walking, painting, redoing your | | | | body for any side effects that you feel. Keeping a |
| deck ...etc. are all relatively simple "jobs" that force | | | | journal of these is not a bad idea. |
| your muscles and joints to move in random motions, | | | | In conclusion, arthritis is a disease that doesn't have |
| a bit at a time, which is what is needed to slow | | | | an instant cure or a magic pill, at least not yet. But, |
| down arthritis. Constant movement and light stress is | | | | there are fairly simple ways that you can use to |
| very beneficial and often fun because it doesn't feel | | | | minimize the effects that it has on you and live your |
| like exercise. | | | | life to the fullest. Slight changes to your routine, more |
| Be Positive | | | | attention to pleasure rather than pain, slight changes |
| Sure, its easy to say it, but not so easy to do it, but | | | | to your diet and other actions will, in the long run |
| you must at least try. Live life to its fullest. Buy that | | | | make your life worth living and more enjoyable. |