Did You Know May is National Arthritis Month
I’ve Got Some Free Tips for You
More than 53 million adults and 300,000 children are suffering from joint pain.
Arthritis awareness month helps all of us deal with this commonly misunderstood health issue. The Arthritis Foundation is leading the way to conquer arthritis and the effects on people dealing with this ubiquitous condition.
Want my free tips—keep on reading.
Do you have stiffness in the morning and throughout the day? Boy, I do.
I’m one of the lucky ones who drew the short straw and found out I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. So how do I manage it.
“I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don’t deserve that either.”
Jack Benny
My first tip is to find a reputable primary care physician who clearly understands what you are going through. Joint stiffness is one thing, but it could be much more severe as it was in my case. If need be, have them recommend a good rheumatologist who can sift through the maze of symptoms you’re experiencing and offer prescriptive advice for improving your health and life style.
I am now 71 and have lived with joint pain since my 30’s. I was misdiagnosed by doctors early on in my life. Some diagnoses you can’t even pronounce and I’m not going to bore you with all those details. Five years ago I was finally correctly diagnosed with I had suspected all along, Rheumatoid Arthritis (“RA”). No cure, so I had a pity party for a day then got my act together and kept on going and moving.
You just can’t sit, that’s not good for anyone. The more you move the better you feel. A healthy amount of movement is so very important for alleviating arthritis pain.
Here are a few activities that you can do to help support your muscles and joints.
AEROBIC EXERCISES. Supports cardiovascular health, as well as helping with weight control and improving energy levels. You should try for 150 minutes each week if possible.
RANGE OF MOTION EXERCISES. These exercises for arthritis tend to be simple stretches and movements that aim to relieve stiffness and ultimately allow your joints to function with a full or practically full range of motion.
STRENGTHENING EXERCISES. To avoid overworking your muscles and joints when getting started with strength training, start with three days a week, and lighter weights. Don’t try to be a weekend warrior or start out pushing yourself too hard. If you experience pain, stop and take things a little easier. Try to do exercises that are lower in intensity and into shorter increments of time. Break up your routine by doing some in the morning and the remainder in the afternoon or evening.
LOOK AT OUR BLOG DATED OCTOBER 27, 2022. Go to the Health and Wellness Menu, then click on the Living with RA submenu. This will provide more insight into what I use to help me overcome the effects of RA. As you can see, it’s not just one approach that works, it’s a menu of choices.
Stay RELEVANT in all that you do, keep moving and never quit. I’m certainly not going to and don’t want you to either.
Your Number One BoomerGal, Connie.
Just to let you know, we’re checking through our month of May activities list of things to do and places to go. Next up, Memorial Day weekend. Where oh where does the time go?
DISCLAIMER. I am not a healthcare/medical professional, nor are the authors at BoomerGal. The purpose of this blog is simply to share my own personal experience with arthritis and what methods I use to keep moving largely free of pain. I am not prescribing any medication. From time to time I use over-the-counter topical ointments and treatments to ease my pain and stiffness. Thank you.