You know how it feels. You wake up in the morning and try to roll out of bed but your lower back aches to move at all. You can’t stand because your back doesn’t want to be perfectly straight yet and you can’t bend over because it doesn’t want to bend yet either. You’ve been living with the pain for years now and it’s almost become normal for you. But it shouldn’t. You ‘re entitled to know the ways that make it easier, simpler, to live with arthritis pain.
- Avoid Foods that Cause Inflammation
A huge part of what causes arthritis pain is inflammation. You can’t see it or feel it when a joint decides to inflame but you’ve definitely noticed the discomfort that follows. It feels stiff and achy. A way that you can prevent that from happening is by avoiding foods that cause inflammation and eating more foods that prevent it. Sugar and processed carbs have been known to cause inflammation in the body so try to avoid foods like processed snacks and instead experiment with low carb foods like leafy greens and other foods that are high in nutrients but low in carbohydrates. Avoid processed meats, dairy, and excessive alcohol and you’ll find that your body is thanking you for your effort. Replace your diet with nuts, broccoli, and other nutrient-rich vegetables, green tea, ginger, fish, berries, and even dark chocolate.
- Do More Stretching
Arthritis acts up most after you let the joint sit. You need to loosen it up and keep it moving. Before you go to bed at night, do a short yoga routine to calm your heart and mind and lengthen your body. When you wake up in the morning, wake up to stretches. Roll your joints and make sure that they are awake when you are. Swimming is a great exercise for victims of arthritis because it limits the impact of the joint while stretching and strengthening them. Look into a gym near you that have open pools and make your way to them every morning. As you continue to strengthen and lengthen your joints and your muscles, you’ll soon find that they don’t hurt as much throughout the day and you’ll be able to roll out of bed without the previous grunts of frustration.
- Utilize the Hot and the Cold
Hot and cold packs can be used to aid in the management of arthritis pain. Most of the time, people report that hot packs do better at relieving pain since the cold seems to stiffen the joint more. For you, experiment with both and then decide which works best for you. After you wake up in the morning, go take a hot shower. Let the heat seep into your joints and let the steam loosen your muscles. That will be the first use of a hot pack for the day. For lunch, but a hot pack behind your back as you sit or wherever else the pain is located.
- Meditation
There are many benefits of meditation. One of the most helpful, when it comes to arthritis, is that is can relieve pain. The mind is incredibly powerful and you can think yourself out of pain. To meditate, sit comfortably on a chair with a cushion behind your spine. If you would like to, find a guided meditation that you like and play it. If you’d like to start on your own and listen to your own mind, then simply close your eyes. At first, breathe normally. Focus on how your breathe and how your chest rises and falls with each inhale and exhale. After a few moments of that, begin practicing specific breath techniques. Inhale slowly for 5 seconds. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Then exhale for 7 seconds. Continue the practice for as long as you like or for until your body fully relaxed.
You don’t deserve to live every day with arthritis pain. Take the steps that you need to take to relieve it and live with inner peace.
