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This blog has now been retired. We appreciate the wisdom and support Indie Cooper-Guzman, RN has brought to the WebMD community throughout the years. Talk with others about chronic pain management at the WebMD Chronic Pain Exchange.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Arthritis Pain Avoidance

Osteoarthritis is a condition that affects almost everyone at some point in their adult life. It is a condition that can rob folks of their golden years. Pain and stiffness interferes with normal activity and once the spiral of inactivity starts the more difficult it is to regain previous capabilities.

What can you do to remain active and comfortable during your adult life? I think the key is to keep moving. Perform some sort of exercise on a regular basis in order to keep your range of motion.

Gentle stretching can be very beneficial. Just be sure to warm muscles before stretching so you don’t tear or sprain them.

Watch your diet and avoid extremes in weight. Being overweight can add its own host of problems that aggravate arthritis. Have you exercised in water? Aqua therapy can be really beneficial for keeping muscles limber. Gentle stretches in a tub or shower may also help – at least a little.

Taking vitamin supplements may be helpful. As we age, we might find a decrease in appetite-taking vitamin supplements will ensure we get the nutrients we need.

These are a couple ways to cope with arthritis. Perhaps you suffer arthritis yourself. I would love to hear about ways you have found to control your pain. Leave a comment or stop by my Pain Management board here on WebMD.

Related Topics: Exercising with Arthritis, WebMD Video: Fixing Your Framework

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Posted by: Indie Cooper-Guzman at 2:21 pm

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