“God helps them who help themselves . . . and it’s God help them who can’t”

How many times was that quoted to me as a child, usually because I couldn’t be bothered to fetch/make/do something and thought/hoped that somebody would take pity on me and do it for me. Well, arthritis sufferers who think that there’s nothing they can do to help themselves are in for a bit of a surprise . . . . there are some very simple things which they can do which really can help them, either directly or indirectly to improve their health, decrease their pain and generally make living with arthritis that little bit easier.

1. Don’t delay – start early. The earlier that your arthritis is diagnosed the less chance there is of irreparable joint damage. If you are suffering from pain, swelling and stiffness particularly around a joint area then make an appointment with your doctor asap.  It’s not enough to think that you “have arthritis” ‘cos there are more than 100 different types and you need to know specifically what type of arthritis you are dealing with in order to deal with it properly. So don’t mess about and get on with it.
2. Protect yourself – particularly your joints. Excessive strain on your joints will only go to make your arthritis pain even worse, so think about having your larger, stronger joints take the strain when you’re carrying something heavy, invest in some assisting devices to make your household chores a little less traumatic, there are plenty of them around – zipper pulls for the bedroom and bathroom, rubber jar openers in the kitchen, handrails in the bathroom. You should also lose some weight if you’re carrying a bit of excess baggage . . . all of those extra pounds put extra strain on your joints every single day.
3. Move it – you might be tempted to sit still when you have arthritis, after all, moving is painful . . . but here’s the thing, exercise can actually help to decrease the pain, increase the range of movement of your joints, stop you from feeling so darned tired and just make you feel a whole lot better overall.  Stick to low intensity exercise which will not put pressure on your joints (no running and skipping, stick to walking or cycling). The Arthritis Foundation runs some exercise programs which you might should be interested in.
4. Listen to some vibes – music is a great mood enhancer, so after you’ve finished your exercise program why not sit down and listen to some tunes. Listening to music has been proven to help reduce pain and depression, especially classical music apparently (but don’t quote me on that one).
5. Got the munchies? P-p-p-pick up an orange, or a glass of orange juice. Vitamin C is fantastic for people who suffer from arthritis and is actually shown to reduce the risk or progression of osteoarthritis. What a refreshing change . . . something that tastes good is actually good for you too!
6. Take a break – vacations are good for the soul, so why not take a well earned break to really lift your spirits. Don’t forget to take your medication, prescription, insurance card and doctor’s telephone number. Use this time to start some lifestyle changes . . . walking along the beach each day is a great way to get into a good habit for when you get home, walking is good for you. My old Granny started to walk a mile every day when she was diagnosed with arthritis in her 60′s, she’s now 78 years old and nobody has a clue where she is . . . boom boom!
7. Laughter really is the best medicine (pity about the state of my jokes then, sorry about that). You might not think that there’s much to laugh about when you’re living with the pain of arthritis, but just watching a funny movie, reading a funny book or tuning in to your favorite sit-com can all help you to have a good laugh. Laughing helps to relax muscles, relieve pain, reduce stress and boost the immune system.
8. Tell somebody about your arthritis. Don’t worry about becoming the neighborhood bore, there’s probably enough of those around already, but talking with people really can help you to understand something yourself and see things more clearly. If you can’t bring yourself to do that, why not join a discussion group with others who have arthritis, after all, arthritis affects 46 million people so you’re sure to know somebody else who has the same problems as you do. Maybe your doctor could put you in touch with them.
9. Trim down a little – yes, we’re back to the weight thing. Losing even a small amount of weight can make a big difference to the affects of your arthritis.  The exercise should help that one (remember #3), and eating healthy snacks (#5).
10. Dem bones, dem bones, dem brittle bones. Decrease your risk of osteoporosis by increasing your daily intake of calcium. Drink more milk, eat cheese, ice cream, yogurts, powdered shakes, broccoli (yes, there’s calcium in there too), kale and salmon.
11. Be kind to your feet. Stop squashing your toes into those ever so fashionable shoes and treat yourself to something comfortable . . . well fitted, well padded shoes with plenty of room for your toes can help not only your feet be happy, but the rest of you too. Happy Feet . . . remember that!
12. Take a hike. Hiking is good for arthritis in many different ways . . . the exercise, the fresh air, the feeling of all being right with the world. Walking really is the best exercise for people with arthritis . . . so what are you waiting for . . . . go every week if you possibly can.
13. I’m not going to include a #13 because if any of you are superstitious you won’t take any notice anyway will you?
14. Bathe your troubles away. A lovely long soak in a warm bubbly bath can help to soothe away lots of troubles, and a warm bath before bed is especially great for people with arthritis because it can help to relieve the muscle tension, ease joints and make way for a great nights sleep.
15. Treat yourself to a good rub down . . . with a qualified masseur of course, or a willing partner! Massage is another great way to soothe your troubles away. Make sure that your massage therapist is fully clued up about your arthritis and has experience of massaging clients with arthritis, some parts of the usual massage might not suit your condition.
16. Keep a journal – it’s a great way to not only keep a track on your arthritis, but is also extremely fun and therapeutic. Write about whatever is on your mind . . . your fears, your frustrations, your innermost feelings . . . or just about how much fun you had on your hike at the weekend. Write about anything . .. just write!
17. Make a splash – water activities are fantastic for people who suffer from arthritis, low impact exercise with minimal joint strain, that’s what makes it so good. Many places run aquatic exercise programs specifically designed for people with arthritis, or if not just try walking up and down the swimming pool (not the deep end!), water has around 12 times more resistance than air so it really is a great way to exercise.
18. Kick the habit – smokers need to stop smoking immediately . . . I’m not joking. You might think that puffing away helps you to deal with the stress associated with arthritis, but how wrong you are. Smoking has a detrimental affect on arthritis in many different ways.

I think that’s enough to be going on with don’t you. Remember, these are very real ways in which you can help yourself to live with arthritis . . . so what’s stopping you?