Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue. Although there is no cure for RA, detecting the disease early and attacking it with multiple treatments can delay joint destruction. Your doctor can provide a game plan for treating RA. One treatment suggestion he may give you is to combat RA at home. There are many things you can do at home to fight the progression of RA.
The Damaging Effects of RA
The cause of RA is not known, and is most predominant in women age 40 to 60, according to the Mayo Clinic. It affects joints in the fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and feet most often, but can become life threatening if it occurs in the cervical spine. There are symptoms to look out for if you suspect you may have RA: joint tenderness, warmth or swelling, pain or stiffness lasting more than 1 hour in the morning or after long rest, joint inflammation, fatigue, possible fever and a general sense of not feeling well. Talk to your doctor if you are suffering from these symptoms or you feel you may be one of the 1.3 million Americans who suffer from RA.
Effective Home Treatments
Regular Exercise: Slowly and gently building up the muscles around the affected joints can help to fight fatigue and reduce pain. Begin by starting a walking regimen. Swimming also is a great exercise. A physical therapist can give you many more simple exercises that can be done at home. Don't exercise tender or sore joints, and if new joint pain is felt, stop immediately. If the pain persists for a few days, contact your doctor.
Apply Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat can ease pain and relax muscles, while cold reduces swelling and spasms. Start by taking a hot bath or shower for 15 minutes, then apply a cold pack to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. If desired, you can alternate between a heating pad and ice pack, keeping each on for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not use cold treatment if you have poor circulation or numbness.
Change your Lifestyle: Find alleviate stress such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises. Talk to your doctor about assistive devices such as grabbing tools to make picking up things easier or a cane to help you get around. Find different ways to perform daily tasks such as picking up objects with your forearms rather than fingers. This may seem awkward at first, but after practice can become routine. Eat a healthy diet to maintain proper weight and quit smoking.
Try a natural concoction: Although no scientific evidence supports the efficacy, many people have reported success using gin-soaked raisins. Fill a bowl with raisins, then enough gin to cover the raisins. Allow the gin to evaporate--which should take about a week. Eat nine raisins per day.
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