| Arthritis can be quite a debilitating condition: it painfully | | | | enhances mobility. You can either use hot paraffin |
| limits the patient's movements, and consequently | | | | wax, or hot water compresses. Whenever the pain is |
| their lives. So how can arthritis patients try and cope | | | | severe, you can apply analgesic creams (such as |
| on day to day basis and attempt to live well with | | | | diclofenac or methy salicylate cream) to the affected |
| their disease? Here we suggest a threefold plan that | | | | joints. |
| is sure to help any arthritis patient. | | | | 3. Lifestyle modifications: if you are even slightly |
| 1. There has been a lot of talk some the | | | | over-weight, you are putting an extra load on your |
| over-the-counter and natural supplements. Many | | | | weight-bearing joints, such as your knee. Even a |
| cartilage-protective preparations contain Chondroitin, | | | | modest weight reduction can work miracles for |
| and Glucosamine. The manufacturers claim that they | | | | osteoarthritis. Also, contrary to popular belief, a |
| rebuild the articular cartilage. The researchers found | | | | carefully designed, gentle, exercise program seems to |
| that some arthritis patients do experience some | | | | help many patients improve their range of motion, |
| improvement of their symptoms when they are | | | | and strengthen their muscles which improves joint |
| given these products. It is definitely worth a try. | | | | mechanics. You will have to see a professional |
| They are also safe, natural, and have very few | | | | physical therapist or chiropractor and ask them |
| side-effects. | | | | whether they have extensive experience with |
| Another helpful substance is fish oil/Omega-3 fatty | | | | arthritis patients. |
| acids which have been found to be beneficial in | | | | Finally, it is imperative that you go see your doctor if |
| arthritis. You can buy these as supplements, or you | | | | the symptoms persist. Self-prescribed, |
| can eat more Omega-3 fish. | | | | over-the-counter pain killers, will only aggravate the |
| 2. Local pain-relieving and mobility enhancing methods: | | | | problem and might convert you from a regular |
| warmth applied to affected joints sometimes | | | | arthritis patient to an arthritis-patient-with-an-ulcer! |