by Amber Hilton

Created on: March 01, 2011   Last Updated: March 06, 2011

Arthritis is a disease that is characterized by chronic pain and stiffness. Most forms of arthritis cause swelling and pain in your joints, such as your knees and elbows. Over time, these joints can become severely damaged. With some types of arthritis, your eyes, skin and other organs are also affected. Causes of arthritis include aging, injury, infection and immune system defects. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, but there are several things you can do to help ease the characteristic pain and stiffness. Read on for some pain management techniques for arthritis, including do's and don’ts for talking to your doctor, exercise, medication and dealing with depression.

*Tell your doctor everything. From your complete medical history to all of your health symptoms, the more your doctor knows, the better he or she can help you treat your arthritis pain. Even symptoms that seem unrelated may in fact relate to your arthritis. Your doctor can also provide a definitive definition of which type of arthritis you have, as well as tell you if any of your joints are already damaged. This type of information not only provides peace of mind, but may also help with pain management.

*Incorporate gentle exercise into your daily routine. If you have arthritis pain, overdoing it with exercise can make matters worse. However, some gentle exercise in the evening can help limit stiffness in the morning. Taking regular breaks to stretch or adjust your position during inactivity, such as when your watching TV or sitting at your computer, will also help ease pain and stiffness. Also take frequent breaks during any repetitive activity to avoid overusing a joint.

*Choose the right exercise. Just because you have arthritis doesn't mean that you can't live an active lifestyle. In fact, some low-impact exercise is actually recommended to help increase your range of motion and endurance, strengthen your muscles and ultimately decrease your pain. The best types of activities for arthritis sufferers are those that increase flexibility and strengthen the muscles around the joints without damaging the joints themselves, so strength training and stretching are encouraged. You can also engage in cardio workouts to help maintain your weight and improve your mood, but they should be low-impact and non-repetitive. For example, you want to avoid exercises like running, tennis and jumping, and instead opt for low-impact workouts like water aerobics, walking and cycling.

*Get plenty

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