Living with RA | Arthritis Information

Wanted to pass this article form WebMD on...may be helpful to some of you as it was for me.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis often means making changes to your lifestyle. You can do things at home, such as staying active and taking medications, to help relieve your symptoms and prevent the disease from getting worse.

People who have rheumatoid arthritis also have an increased risk of heart disease. But healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a healthy diet, may reduce your risk of heart disease.¹¹ For more information, see the topics Healthy Eating and Fitness.

It is common to feel pain, fatigue, and joint stiffness with rheumatoid arthritis. Some activities may make your discomfort worse, while others might provide relief. Thousands of people with arthritis have benefited from developing and following plans to help them manage their symptoms. These plans often include education about the disease, exercise, diet changes, assistive devices, and other supports to help you stay as active as possible. For more information on managing your disease, see:

Taking an active role in the management of your rheumatoid arthritis.

You can also plan for those times when the disease symptoms may be more severe. It is important to work closely with your health professionals, who may include a physical therapist or counselor, to find ways to reduce pain.

People with rheumatoid arthritis have a high risk of developing osteoporosis because of the action of the disease itself, side effects from some treatments, and a decrease in physical activity as a result of disabling pain. It is recommended that people with rheumatoid arthritis take 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D daily. This calcium and vitamin D can come from dietary sources and supplements. If you do not consume significant amounts of milk and dairy products, you may need to take most of this requirement as supplements. Many health professionals also recommend that people with rheumatoid arthritis take bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (Fosamax) or risedronate (Actonel), which increase bone formation.⁴ For more information, see the topic Osteoporosis.

Rest when tired

Rheumatoid arthritis itself causes fatigue, and the strain of dealing with pain and limited activities also can make you tired. The amount of rest you need depends on how severe your symptoms are.

With severe symptoms, you may need long periods of rest. You might need to rest a joint by lying down for 15 minutes several times a day to relax. Experiment until you find a good balance between daily activities that you must do or want to do and the amount of rest you need in be able to do those activities.
Plan your day carefully, including rest periods, and pace your activities so that you don't get overtired.
Don't feel guilty if you have to give up some tasks, such as making the bed or housework. Do the things you must do or really want to do, and find other ways to get less important things done.
Don't rest too much. Prolonged joint inactivity can lead to more stiffness and, eventually, to weakness of underused muscles. Gently moving each joint through a comfortable range of motion each day will help prevent stiffness.

Protect your joints

You may need to change the way you do certain activities so that you are not overusing your joints. Try to find different ways to relieve your joint pain.

Joint pain and stiffness may improve with heat therapy, which includes:
Taking warm showers or baths after long periods of sitting or sleeping.
Soaking hand joints in warm wax baths.
Sleeping under a warm electric blanket.
Use assistive devices to reduce strain on your joints, such as special kitchen tools or door knobs.
Use splints, canes, or walkers to reduce pain and improve function.

Exercise

Keep moving to maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and overall health.

Physical therapy may be recommended by your health professional.
Exercise can reduce pain and improve function in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Exercise for arthritis takes three forms-stretching, strengthening, and conditioning. Recent reviews of exercise studies report that both weight-bearing exercise and strength training improve or maintain the quality of life for people with rheumatoid arthritis.^{12, 13} Your specific joint problem may dictate what type of exercise will help the most. For example:
Swimming is a good conditioning exercise if you have joint problems in the lower extremities, such as the knees, ankles, or feet.
Bicycling and walking are good conditioning exercises if your joint problems are not in the lower extremities.

Eat a balanced diet

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis may not eat a healthy, balanced diet because symptoms may make it difficult to shop or cook.

The best diet for people with rheumatoid arthritis is a healthy, balanced diet that is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt and high in fiber and complex carbohydrate (whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables).

Although studies have been done to determine whether certain foods or special diets can improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, there is no consistent evidence that eating certain foods can help. The exception is fish. Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) has a modest effect in reducing inflammation and has been shown to slightly reduce swelling in rheumatoid arthritis. Although the doses of fish oil used in the studies were much higher than what a person can eat in an average serving of fish, eating fish may improve symptoms.
Be sure to get enough calcium and vitamin D to protect your bones against osteoporosis. For more information, see the topic Osteoporosis.
Lose weight, if you are overweight. For more information, see the topic Healthy Weight.

This one as well...
There is a large degree of difference in “living with rheumatoid arthritis” and living “well” with rheumatoid arthritis. Living well with rheumatoid arthritis involves making important lifestyle adjustments. Learning to pace yourself, making sure you get adequate rest and exercise and being wary of overextending yourself are important skills to learn when living with rheumatoid arthritis.

For each person living with rheumatoid arthritis, the circumstances will be different because the disease affects each person differently. Living with rheumatoid arthritis is a challenge and an education, but people living with rheumatoid arthritis can meet this challenge with the right set of tools. With close attention and care, most people living with rheumatoid arthritis can maintain a relatively normal life.

These are several tips to help even out the ups and downs of living with rheumatoid arthritis:
_ Focus on eating properly at all times, which includes eliminating processed flours and sugars and adding nutritional supplements.
_ Stay in close contact with your doctor.
_ Determining a healthy weight and work toward reaching that weight goal.
_ Maintain normal daily activities as best you can.
_ Stay connected with friends and family. Do not isolate yourself from the
world.
_ Become well-educated about rheumatoid arthritis.
_ Emotionally prepare for the up-and down nature of living with rheumatoid arthritis.
_ Exercise regularly to improve strength and energy levels and decrease anxiety, depression and stress.
_ Allow time for extra rest.
_ Develop priorities and break down long-term projects into small, manageable jobs.
_ Find positive ways to address negative emotions. Resolve stress, depression, pain and anger.
You may have a mild or a more serious form, but no matter how severe your rheumatoid arthritis is, you will need close medical supervision. You may also need to make lifestyle changes to keep your disease under control and feel as well as possible. At the beginning, you may feel some of these emotions:
_ Anger or depression over the loss of your former good health.
_ Uncertainty about what to tell family, friends, or coworkers.
_ Guilt for having rheumatoid arthritis and the burden it may cause your family.
_ Fear that you may lose your job if you can no longer work regularly.

These are all normal feelings, and you are not alone in having them. You should give yourself time to adjust to your illness. This may or may not be easy for you. Discuss your feelings and concerns with your doctor and nurse and with your family and friends. Sometimes, talking with other people who have rheumatoid arthritis is helpful. If you are having a hard time adjusting to your diagnosis, consider seeking the help of a counselor.

Many physical and emotional issues confront people with rheumatoid arthritis, both in the beginning and throughout the course of their disease. The most common issues include the following.
_ Fatigue: Fatigue is a chronic problem that is usually accompanied by joint pain and stiffness. It can affect many aspects of your daily life.
_ Changes in Physical Ability: Many people living with rheumatoid arthritis feel isolated because their fatigue and need to rest keep them from maintaining normal work and social schedules. There will be times when you may feel it is easier to stay home than to make plans and later cancel them because you are too tired or not feeling well.
_ Depression: You may feel sad or depressed at times in your struggle living with rheumatoid arthritis or because of the medications you take. Good communication with your doctor and health care team, as well as with your family and friends, is important in helping you cope with these feelings.
_ Concern for the Future: Because the future and course of your disease are unknown, planning for your job, your family, and life in general can be difficult at times when living with rheumatoid arthritis.
_ Family Concerns: Like you, your family can be overwhelmed about your diagnosis and may have a difficult time understanding and adapting to your disease. They may feel confused, helpless, and afraid. Because of your physical limitations, traditional roles and responsibilities within the family may need to change. It is important that everyone talk openly and honestly with each other. It is also important that your family learns about your disease so they can better understand your physical and emotional condition and the changes in your family that may result.

Living with rheumatoid arthritis: Caring For Yourself
_ Learn as much about rheumatoid arthritis as possible.
_ Understand that you will experience a variety of emotions, particularly when you are first diagnosed and adjusting to the fact that you are living with rheumatoid arthritis.
_ Adopt a positive attitude.
_ Evaluate your personal strengths and resources, such as family, friends, coworkers, and community ties.
_ Determine what your needs are, then make a plan to address them.
_ Don’t be afraid to set goals for yourself, but be flexible.
_ Learn how to manage the physical aspects of your disease and the effects they have on other areas of your life.
_ Learn to deal with stressful situations, because stress and anxiety can make rheumatoid arthritis symptoms worse.
_ Learn to talk with your health care team, family, friends, and coworkers about rheumatoid arthritis and the effect it has on your life.
_ Don’t be afraid to seek help for yourself or your family.

Remember: Living well with rheumatoid arthritis is possible. It is important that you take control of your illness and not allow it to take control of you. Adopting a positive attitude and striving to be happy can make a big difference in the quality of your life and that of your family and friends.

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