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stress on joints in your back, hips, knees and feet - places where arthritis pain is commonly felt. Excess weight also can make joint surgery more difficult and risky.
*Eat a healthy diet. Eating a diet high in vegetables, whole grains and fruits helps you maintain a proper weight and good health.

Lifestyle Modifications
While there is much about having a rheumatic disease that is not under your control, managing a variety of lifestyle issues can help make your condition easier. These include:

*Apply cold to joints or painful areas for occasional flare-ups. Cold may dull the sensation of pain in the first day or two. Cold also has a numbing effect and decreases muscle spasms. *Do not use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness.
*Apply heat to joints or painful areas. Heat will ease your pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase the regional flow of blood. You may find it especially helpful before exercising. One of the easiest and most effective ways to apply heat is to take a 15-minute hot shower or bath. Other options are a hot pack, an electric heating pad on its lowest setting or a radiant heat lamp with a 250-watt reflector heat bulb. If your skin has poor sensation or if you have poor circulation, do not use heat treatment.
*Avoid actions that strain joints, including finger joints, if you have arthritis. Choose a purse with a shoulder strap rather than a clutch-style purse. Use hot water to loosen a jar lid and pressure from your palm rather than your fingers to open it.
*Avoid jobs or activities that require repetitive motions, heavy lifting or stress on joints. Other activities that should be avoided are ones that involve overuse or injury to a joint.
*Avoid stress and anxiety. These can cause changes in your body chemistry that can make your symptoms worse. Relaxation techniques or antidepressant drugs can help manage stress and anxiety. Hypnosis, guided imagery, deep breathing and muscle relaxation can all be used to control pain.
*Develop a support system to help you and your family best manage your condition.
*Eat a balanced, healthy diet that allows you maintain a proper body weight.
*Get enough exercise. This helps reduce pain, stiffness and stress while increasing your strength and flexibility.
*Get enough rest. Being tired and feeling pain are signs that it may be time to rest joints and muscles. The pain associated with rheumatic diseases can make getting a good night's sleep difficult. This prevents your body from producing the chemicals that help regulate pain.
*Keep a positive attitude. Make a plan with your doctor for managing your arthritis. This will help you feel that you are in charge of your disease, rather than vice versa. Studies show that people who take control of their treatment and actively manage their arthritis experience less pain and function better.

Learn more about this author, Christobel Rajesh.
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