Ten Common Mistakes Arthritis Sufferers Make | Arthritis Information

 

What are some common mistakes of sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis? What are things they should avoid or should make a priority? What precautions should they take to avoid rheumatoid arthritis pain?

* People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis must recognize that they need more sleep than they did before.

*While people with rheumatoid arthritis feel more tired or fatigued they forget the value of aerobic exercise. Exercise actually increases energy levels and improves over-all health which will help with the rheumatoid arthritis.

*Another health-related mistake is to think that because they are seeing a rheumatologist regularly they don't need to continue to monitor other health needs. They should avoid the mistake of missing regular or annual checkups such as breast exams, prostrate exams, and routine physicals.

*Another mistake to avoid is forgetting to take a multivitamin. Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis suppress the immune system so it is important to be sure to get plenty of nutrition to help the body stay healthy. It is important to build a routine or system to remember to take, not only vitamins, but also medications since many are not daily doses.

*Many people with rheumatoid arthritis are unaware of recent research that shows a correlation between smoking and the early onset or severity levels of rheumatoid arthritis. Smokers who develop rheumatoid arthritis should stop immediately. Smokers at risk for rheumatoid arthritis should stop before it develops.

*Patients who are unsure of their doctor's diagnosis or who feel their questions are not adequately answered should always seek a second opinion. Rheumatoid arthritis is a life-long disease and patients should be happy with their care.

*Some patients delay or don't start DMARDs (disease-modifiying anti-rheumatic drugs). Many want to avoid the side-effects of these drugs, but the long-term effects without the drugs are worse.

These are ten common mistakes of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Precautions should be taken to avoid these mistakes.

http://www.rheumatoidarthritisnews.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-ten-mistakes.php Lynn492009-11-04 05:18:33Great info to keep in mind! Proud to say I am only making a couple of mistakes.Sometimes I spend so much time at the various doctors for RA related visits, I am reluctant to go for health checkups!  Important, I know!  I am with you Snow, on your wish to have better options for advice on physical activities when living with RA. 

I really hate needing more sleep! It if anything happens after 10, I'm going to miss it for sure! Great little post Lyne, to the point and not to much waffle.
I liked the bit about getting stuck into this disease with the heavy hitters.

I did not like the smoking bit! Bodak2009-11-05 00:03:45[QUOTE=Bodak] Great little post Lyne, to the point and not to much waffle.
I liked the bit about getting stuck into this disease with the heavy hitters.

I did not like the smoking bit![/QUOTE] Glad you liked it [QUOTE=Bodak] I did not like the smoking bit! [/QUOTE]
I overheard one RA tell a patient that cigarette smoking can, in some patients, reduce the effectiveness of medications by as much as 40%...something about the way nicotine binds with one of the cellular constituents of blood. As I said, I simply overhead this remark and can offer no substantive or scientific evidence, but understanding just a bit about the use of ammonia in processing tobacco for rolling into cigarettes it makes sence on a folk-medicine basis if nothing else.

I have made every other mistake on the list, but am working on being a better "sufferer".
[QUOTE=SnowOwl]I don't smoke...[/QUOTE]
Neither do I and a few days ago I was with my sister who stopped for gasoline at one of those corner station/car wash/mini-mart places and noticed a big sign in the window advertising a HUGE sale of cartons of cigarettes: .62 USD or 5.60/package. THAT was one more reason to be glad that I do not indulge in that vice.
I've been quit for more than two months now!! My husband will hit his two week mark tomorrow. It was really, really hard those first couple of weeks, but it gets easier and easier Stephen. When you're ready; you can do it. You have to be ready though. There are things that I would like to say but feel I cannot thru fear of some of my words being used in a twisted manner.

I was in the mood after the heart attack at Xmas but run head long into opposition on the home front.
I just crumbled because I could not put up with emotional stuff I would have uncounted.

I was going to take myself away into my sanctuary where I'd be on neutral ground and no drama,  that place was into the bush.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I would like to have supportive people with me that could help walk me thu the process.
Great article Lynn. Thanks for posting it and all the other research things you post. Really helps us all avoid the mistake of being unaware of recent research! Now about the smoking Stephen - I smoked a pack a day for 48 years, then had an episode of bleeding ulcers (this was before RA) and the docs said stop smoking unless you want to be in here like this every couple of months. That did not sound like fun so, crying all the way, I said OK, give me the patch and drugs (Prozac). It worked! That was in November of 2007 I think. It is wonderful not to be saddled with that vice! Never thought I'd feel this way. Wonderful not to have to be sure I take enough packs with me on a vacation! Wonderful not to have to buy a purse big enough to hold the pack! Wonderful not to have to leave the family dinner or neighborhood party to go stand in the rain and smoke! I could go on and on, but I trust you get the point. It is the hardest thing I ever did but well worth it! Give it some thought and when you decide its the right time you will be able to do it! I have never smoked Stephen, but I have it on reliable authority that it is very difficult to quit... and also well worth the effort. I wish you the best of luck.

Stephen~

Thank you for your supportive encouragement.

I agree Lovie that it is all in the head. I did go to your links to investigate and thank you for your efforts in placing those links up.

It's a battle.
Bodak2009-11-06 11:45:19I have been a non smoker now for 8 years and it truly was a long process.  I tried absolutely everything for at least 15 years.  This may or may not have been the key for me but for at least 6 months before I quit I kept telling myself how I hated smoking, I hated how it smelled and I hated how it was controlling me.  I had about a weeks worth of Zyban left and I took five and realized I did not need any more and it was like I had never smoked in my life.  Very strange but I have talked to others that have done much the same thing. My neighbor is a retired Doctor, he told me that nicotine addiction is stronger than heroin... LOL, who has been looking through my life? As I read through the list of mistakes I had that creepy, backatheneck feeling like someone was staring at me--and not from much of a distance.

RE: cigarette smoking. Guilty as changed, your honor. I did not start until I was 30, but I did smoke for 20 years. I KNEW that I HAD to STOP, so I set a date, randomly, a few weeks into the future and smoked my last cigarette at 11:50 PM prior to the date and have not, to this date, given in to the urge to light up just one more time.

From my POV, each of us who has STOPPED, who has tried to stop, and who are thinking about stopping needs to be congratulated.

Congrats!

AFTER THOUGHT: perhaps it would be a positive community effort to set up a topic for unconditional support of those who want to quit...as I said, just a thought.
Abazina2009-11-07 09:14:31
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