It is tough to deal with arthritis. In such conditions, leading a regular, active life can be challenging, especially in the morning when your joints are least cooperative. People often avoid taking prescription painkillers out of fear of their side effects, choosing instead to suffer through the discomfort. But let's not forget that although this ailment cannot be cured, it is still very much manageable.
Many potent natural cures are available to help you, so you don't have to endure the pain. In this post, we'll go over some rheumatoid arthritis daily routines that have been scientifically proven to relieve joint pain and get you going all day long. Let's understand some basics first, come on!
A quick look into arthritis
The term "arthritis" refers to a range of physiological conditions that result in joint pain, stiffness, and swelling because of inflammation and consequent tissue damage. Each form of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, gout, etc., has its symptoms and course of action. Arthritis's effects on daily life are very challenging as it makes even simple tasks difficult.
Numerous things, such as age, gender, obesity, trauma, other illnesses, or genetics, can contribute to its occurrence. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the two common kinds of arthritis.
In brief, the former is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system attacks your joints and causes damage to them, whereas the latter is joint damage brought on by your body using your joints excessively. One in four persons, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has some kind of arthritis.
Why does joint discomfort increase in the morning?
One of the most typical symptoms of arthritis is morning stiffness or discomfort in the joints. This happens because the spongy cushion of cartilage in your joints dries out and stiffens as a result of decreased production of synovial fluid by the joint linings, which is necessary to keep the joints lubricated.
It feels incredible and is good for your health to get a good night's sleep, but it also means that your joints are immobile for a while. Therefore, stiffness and discomfort in the morning are caused by inactivity during sleep for 6 to 8 hours. Below are some effective natural remedies to lessen your pain so you can live a normal life with rheumatoid arthritis. Have a look!
Warm up in your bed
The application of heat on aching joints helps to relieve pain. You can either use a heating pad immediately after waking up or get yourself a heated blanket to warm up your joints.
Take hot showers
A hot shower is a very effective way to warm up your joints. The warmth will help to reduce stiffness and promote joint movements. Experts say moist heat is better than dry heat for reducing joint pain, but the time under hot showers should be more than 10-15 mins, as prolonged hot showers might have the opposite impact.
Stretch your joints
The best way to manage many symptoms of arthritis is to stay active and keep your joints moving. In the beginning, it may feel uncomfortable but trust the process. A few simple stretches on your bed after waking up will help you alleviate pain eventually. Remember, arthritic pain improves as much as you mobilize your joints.
Exercise a bit
As just said, keeping your joints active is of prime importance. Simple exercises like walking, cycling, swimming, or even doing some chores that ensure joint movements will be beneficial. You were wondering if cycling is good for ankle arthritis? Yes, but in moderation. Apart from this, exercise will also help you to maintain body weight which will ensure that the joints are not under stress or overweight.
Regular exercising will further help to strengthen your supporting muscles, which in turn will support your joints. In the long run, regular moderate exercise will be of great help.
Hydrate well
Your body needs to be well hydrated to maintain the fluids between the joints. Drink a glass or two of water shortly after you wake up. Also, have plenty of fluids throughout the day.
Your diet matters
The key focus for us is to reduce inflammation in such cases. Therefore, make sure your diet is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. One simple change to make in your diet is to increase the number of colorful foods you consume. Also, reduce inflammation-promoting foods like foods rich in sugar, salt, and saturated oil. Highly processed foods are a big NO too!
Also Read: How To Reduce Inflammation In 4 Steps
Also Read: The Mediterranean Diet: A Strategy To Reduce Inflammation
Have green-lipped mussel oil supplements
Due to its potent anti-inflammatory properties, green-lipped mussel oil is helpful in the treatment of arthritis and other chronic inflammation-related conditions. By regularly consuming enough green-lipped mussels or green-lipped mussel extracts, inflammation-causing substances like leukotriene and cyclooxygenase can be significantly reduced.
Green-lipped mussel oil contains several omegas, including 3, 6, 7, and 9, which are all potent anti-inflammatory compounds. It has a unique omega-3 fatty acid called eicosatetraenoic acid, which increases its potency relative to other sources of omega by several times.
Chondroitin sulfate, an anti-inflammatory compound, is also abundant in green-lipped mussels. Your joint health will improve, and your pain levels will significantly decrease if you regularly consume green-lipped mussel oil. It's one of the best arthritis products.
Consume plenty of collagen
One of the principal substances that make up our bones is collagen. The natural production of this structural protein declines with age, and diseases like arthritis also cause its degeneration. The anti-inflammatory, painkilling, and joint-strengthening effects of collagen are highly potent. Studies have shown that it can help with osteoarthritis symptoms and even prevent them when taken as a supplement.
It keeps the cartilage around the bones healthy, facilitating mobility. Cartilages are what keep two bones from rubbing against one another. In a study, about 73 athletes who consumed 10 g of collagen said they experienced less joint pain.
That's all, pals. If you are living with someone with rheumatoid arthritis, please share this article with them. Do you know any other effective way to help with the condition? If Yes, please comment!