Tell us about the things you’ve had to say No to because of arthritis, and what you’ve done to overcome those challenges and turn them into moments of Yes.
Preparing for Irma if You Have Arthritis
During a natural disaster, not having your medications or assistive devices adds to physical and emotional stress, which can trigger arthritis flares and leave you vulnerable to injury and infection. “High stress levels make rheumatic conditions worse; having an established emergency plan can only reduce stress,” says Jennifer Hootman, PhD, an epidemiologist in the Arthritis Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Registered nurse Victoria Ruffing, director of nursing and patient education at the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center in Baltimore, MD, also stresses the need to have a plan for your medications – and awareness of the potential dangers for people with arthritis of the storm’s aftermath. “Contaminated water, debris, and ...more
Impact Exercises Could Possibly Help Arthritis
When it hurts to get out of a chair, running and jumping are probably the last things you would consider doing. In fact, these high-impact movements are often considered risky for arthritic joints; they apply a jolt of force that may lead to pain. But recent research reveals that some impact in some cases may actually be good for joints. How It May Help In a 2015 study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, women with mild knee osteoarthritis who did impact movements (like a series of jumps on and off a step) three times a week experienced a ...more
6 Tips To Make Your Bed With Less Pain
Making a bed can be a physical task, but don’t give up because you have arthritis. Bed making is easy with these tips. Forget perfection when making a bed. Hospital corners aren’t necessary. In fact, don’t bother tucking the top sheet under the mattress. Just smooth it out and throw the comforter over the sheet. Get some leverage. If you’re a stickler for a tucked sheet, use a long-handled wooden spoon to push the sheet under the mattress. Add markers for an even fit. To get bed sheets and blankets to hang evenly on both sides without ...more
Surprising Triggers of Inflammation
Reining in runaway inflammation is essential for managing arthritis, especially autoimmune, inflammatory varieties such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis. Taking your medications as prescribed is essential, but certain lifestyle changes may lower inflammation, too. For instance, smoking sparks inflammation, says rheumatologist Susan Goodman, MD, of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, so the choice is simple: Don’t. These other inflammation triggers may be less obvious. A Dirty Mouth Poor oral hygiene allows plaque to form on your teeth, not only causing cavities and gum disease, but also generating inflammatory chemicals such as prostaglandins and TNF-α. The good ...more
September Is Pain Awareness Month
September is Pain Awareness Month – when we raise public awareness about the chronic pain nearly 100 million Americans experience and ways to effectively manage it. Everyone has acute pain from time to time, typically coming from an injury, like cutting a finger or pulling a muscle; usually the pain goes away within 30 days or once the injury heals. Chronic pain, on the other hand, persists or progresses; your body keeps hurting for weeks, months or even years. If you have arthritis, you may experience chronic pain. Not All Pain is Created Equal There are more than 100 types of arthritis and related ...more
Road Trip Tips for Arthritis
The stress and tension that often come with road trips can add to physical discomfort and even lead to an arthritis flare. But with proper planning and a few travel tips, you can reduce surprises and anxiety, says Elin Schold Davis, an occupational therapist and coordinator of the Older Driver Initiative for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in Bethesda, Md. Here’s how. Plan Ahead Drive with a buddy. You can take turns behind the wheel, allowing the other to move and stretch more in the passenger seat. It also allows one person to help the other with directions. A GPS ...more
The Secret Power of Chocolate Chip Cookies
American chefs Ruth Graves Wakefield and Sue Bridges invented the chocolate chip cookie in 1938 and served them as a sweet snack and dessert at the Toll House Inn in Whitman Massachusetts. Little did they know the impact their invention would have on a little girl from Greensboro, North Carolina some 67 years later. Kate Wingate was born in 2004 to her parents, Brook and Paul, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Kate was an active baby and toddler, playing with her toys and learning to walk. When she was only 18 months old, Kate’s knee swelled and her leg was unable to straighten. ...more
Knee OA More Common Now Than at Any Time in the Last 6,000 Years
A team of researchers from the United States and Finland has found that rates of knee osteoarthritis (OA) are higher now than in the past – probably not for the reasons you think. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers report that knee OA is more than twice as common today, in the post-industrial era, as it was at any time before, going back to prehistoric days. People in the 21st century are also more likely to have arthritis in both knees than were people in the past. So how did the researchers study ...more