Whether you live in Alberta or Alabama, the weather has varied from one extreme to another. For some people with arthritis, their pain has been extreme as well. It is said that difficult times make strong people, and there is truth to this, but the suffering that many people with arthritis endure is not necessary.
Ben came in with rheumatoid arthritis in his right hand so bad that he could barely close it. He couldn’t work in his workshop anymore, which he loves doing. It was difficult even to feed himself or hold a coffee cup.
“Have you ever tried to feed yourself with your left hand?” He asked.
Extreme pain takes away dignity and independence. We need to rely on each other to a certain degree, but we also need to have the ability to do things for ourselves. We all require dignity and arthritic pain can steal that away from us just like it was for Ben.
Ben’s arthritis will be with him for the rest of his life but the pain that comes with the arthritic flares no longer prevents him from enjoying what he loves to do.
These are some of the things he does for his rheumatoid arthritic pain. You can try these as well, to help prevent arthritic pain from controlling your life:
a. Be cautious with foods that encourage or lead to inflammation. Not all foods are equal. In Oriental medicines, food is categorized for its different effects on the body. Depending on your constitutional body type and your body’s individual characteristics, certain foods may be more useful for your body than others. If you are prone to inflammation, you will want to avoid foods that increase inflammation. I will discuss this more in my next Wednesday Blog.
b. If it causes you harm, don’t do it. This may seem obvious but how often do we do things that “need done” knowing we will pay for it later. Sometimes it us who have to do it but usually someone else can do it for us much easier. This is hard if our condition is not improving but if you are taking steps to heal your issues then letting someone else do it this time may save you from sliding backwards and feeling like you will never get better.
c. Massage – some people can take their pain down a few degrees by massaging areas where the pain is likely to occur. When you are not in a flare, massaging the fingers, wrist, and elbow lightly 3-5 times a day will help increase circulation in the area and take down inflammation. If it hurts when you massage it don’t press so hard, if it still hurts to much don’t do this. The purpose of massaging the area is not to increase your pain, and you will likely need professional help for the pain.
d. If you are still not better, you are plateauing, or you just want to get better faster, you can seek professional help. Do it yourself can be useful to a certain extent but it always involves trial and error so a professional who knows the pitfalls to avoid, can save you heartache and literal pain in the long run.
Arthritis, especially rheumatoid arthritis, can seem hopeless, but in many cases, just like Ben’s case, there is hope. Dr. Holden, DAc. And his staff at Valley Mist Health have helped hundreds of people with various types of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Ben shared with Dr. Holden and his staff this week, “I was out woodworking in my shop for a couple of hours this past weekend and when I came in, I didn’t have any pain. It is working.”
Life is short and there is hope. If you do it free from pain, you can make the most of it.
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