There was a time when Arthritis was thought to be an old person’s disease. It was rare to hear of someone younger than fifty years of age to suffer from joint pain and degeneration. Arthritis has been believed to be something that you develop as you get older, and it has long been thought to be something that happens naturally as our bodies age. The truth, however, is much different than the perception and long-held beliefs about this debilitation condition. The truth is that some types of Arthritis are not brought on my years of working hard-labour jobs and being hard on your knees throughout your lifetime. And for many, including young people, dealing with the pain and discomfort, debilitation and degeneration of joints are very real with no hope of a cure in sight.
Some forms of Arthritis are categorized as autoimmune conditions, in which the body attacks itself because it doesn’t recognize antibodies in one’s own system. This causes wide-spread swelling, pain, and damage to joints – and even organs – throughout the body. So how can people of all ages learn to manage the pain and discomfort of Arthritis, regardless of the onset or prognosis? We’ve put together a comprehensive list of natural health remedies that you, or someone you love who suffers from this debilitating disease, may find helpful. Currently, there is no cure, but comfort and quality of life are not far behind these natural health remedies for Arthritis.
Losing Weight Reduces Strain and Damage on Your Joints
If you’ve been diagnosed with Arthritis, it’s likely that your doctor has at least mentioned you should drop a few pounds. This isn’t for vanity reasons. For every pound you lose, it’s like there are four pounds of less pressure on your knees and lower body joints. Do the math: if you lose 13 pounds, not only will you feel better and look better, but your body will physically benefit from not having to carry around those 13 physical pounds and your knees will think you’ve lost 52 pounds! Imagine what that could do for your pain and discomfort, not to mention damage and degeneration of your knees and lower body joints! When we consider how overweight the general population is, and how sick people are these days, it’s small changes like losing a few pounds that can actually make a huge difference in the life of someone who suffers from chronic pain.
Change Your Eating Habits to Improve Mood, Well-Being, Waistline, and More
The catch, of course, is that when you are in pain, you don’t want to exercise. What’s more frustrating for a lot of people who suffer from Arthritis is that exercise actually makes them feel better, but getting started is often very difficult. It takes people with Arthritis longer to ready themselves for something as simple as a walk. People often worry about not being about to finish the walk or return home without feeling a lot of pain. So rather than focus on exercise at the outset, focus on changing your eating habits in order to lose weight. After you have lost a few pounds and gain some confidence in your ability to engage in exercise, you can take up something that won’t stress your joints, such as swimming or water aerobics. Remember that whatever exercise you choose to do, make sure you move at your own pace. Don’t feel pressured to work out faster or harder just because other people are doing it. Try incorporating healthy foods into your meal plan, rather than removing foods, because that is difficult for many people as well. Blueberries, Greek yogurt, raw almonds, spinach, and other fish that has Omega-3 antioxidants in it are all very good for helping to reduce inflammation in your body related to Arthritis. What’s more, they are healthy foods that you can enjoy to lose weight. Avoid fried foods, even if you don’t have Arthritis. It’s terrible for your heart and body overall.
Meditate and Relax to Reduce Pain and Discomfort Related to Arthritis
One of the best ways to manage pain and discomfort associated with Arthritis pain is to learn to relax more. When you can focus your mind away from the pain you are feeling, you are more likely to have a better quality of life without having to rely on prescription medication or painkillers. Granted, many Arthritis sufferers would be unable to function or care for themselves without medical intervention, but if you aren’t that bad off just yet, there are lots of things you can do to help manage your expectations related to joint pain and swelling.
Whenever possible, natural remedies are preferred because they rarely have lasting side effects; unlike prescription medications that do untold damage to your organs while keeping your inflammatory disease at bay. Many people have turned to cannabis or medicinal cannabis as a way to manage their pain and discomfort related to Arthritis. For some, they discreetly order their products at an online headshop, while others get products in their local cannabis stores down the street. Depending on your comfort level, the choice is yours. Either way, cannabis can help you relax and focus your mind away from your pain.
Seek Support and Insight From Those That Have Been There
One of the most important things you can do if you or someone you know suffers from Arthritis is find a support group. Support groups offer a lot of opportunities to put your pain and discomfort in perspective and it provides you with an outlet to be around people who understand your pain and suffering. Because Arthritis is an invisible disease – for the most part – loved ones often have a hard time understanding your limitations. If you have Arthritis yourself, you’ve likely experienced this type of misunderstanding from time to time. This misunderstanding often occurs when you have good days and bad days.
People who don’t have chronic pain don’t understand how you can be on top of the world one day and crawling into bed with no sign of leaving it, the next day. It’s frustrating, not only for the person who has Arthritis but also for people around them who can’t seem to grasp what this kind of pain feels like. If you don’t have a support group in your area, consider starting one. It’s highly unlikely that you are the only one in your area who suffers from Arthritis. And if you don’t feel like organizing something like a support group, find a group of people, or just one other person, who has some kind of chronic illness that you can support. You don’t have to have the same condition to support one another.
So whether you have been suffering from debilitating Arthritis since you were a teenager or you are getting to the age where Arthritis is par for the course, consider how you can incorporate natural remedies into your daily routine so that you can take back control of what has been lost along the way. Pace yourself and allow yourself to rest when you need it. It’s not a competition. Natural remedies, such as learning meditation, increasing exercise, and working with a support group can go a long way to help understand your situation and make the most of it.
