Arthritis is a painful disease, attacking the joints and causing inflammation and pain. It a condition that although common, still causes a tremendous of amount of pain. Read further for some great tips from those who have struggled with the pain of arthritis first-hand.

Ask your doctor how to optimize the use of cold and heat in treating your arthritic joints. Applying heat and ice to your joints can bring great relief from the pain. Switching between them can help too, but don't overuse this method.

Women suffering with arthritis should avoid wearing high heels. While high heels look nice, they aren't so nice to your feet. It makes it harder on the knees and makes arthritis pain worse. Instead, choose a pair of fashionable, comfortable shoes. Your arthritic knees will respond gratefully.

For folks who are afraid of the side effects from medications, Provailen is a decent joint pain treatment that you can consider to relieve your arthritis symptoms. It is made from 100% natural ingredients and clinically proven to work on 90% of all patients.

Relaxing and eliminating stress can help you to better deal with your arthritis. Whenever you are feeling stressed, your body releases chemicals that often cause inflammation, worsening your arthritis. Perhaps you could find a more efficient way to organize your time, exercise, or simply learn to see things from a different perspective and stop worrying about details.

Always visit a doctor after you experience a twist or small sprain to any body part. Getting minor injuries treated correctly can prevent the formation of scar tissue. This is important because scar tissue can sometimes cause arthritis in the future. A doctor can check you to see if there is a minor fracture and splint or wrap injuries.

Monitor your stress level. Quite often, an excess of stress can contribute to inflammation and swelling. Find ways to relieve your stress, and utilize these strategies whenever you need them. This will help keep your body and mind strong and healthy.

Getting enough sleep is important for dealing with arthritis. Your body cannot fight arthritis without it. Get eight to 10 hours of sleep each day, depending on how much stress you have. Your body's own healing powers improve substantially with good sleep.

Arthritis sufferers will benefit from moderate exercise. Regular exercise is good for the body, mind and spirit and helps keep arthritic joints loose and flexible. This helps reduce pain and flare-ups. Arthritis sufferers should partake in exercise to help relieve symptoms, but it's important that they plan their workouts to avoid overstressing painful joints.

Consider taking the medication that your doctor has suggested when you are dealing with painful symptoms due to your arthritis. The FDA has thoroughly tested all medicines prior to them being allowed on the market, so fear of taking medicine is silly.

Make it a priority to strengthen your muscles. Increasing muscle tone helps to reduce chronic pain. Low-key strength training, at a gradual pace, can make a big difference over time. Use light weights and keep sessions short at first, to avoid injury. With consistency, your muscles will strengthen and pain from arthritis can be alleviated.

You should look at weight loss and staying fit as a must in your life. Weight is an important factor in reducing the pain of arthritis. By losing any excess weight, you will be lessening the load on your joints, thereby reducing your pain. You would be shocked at what losing just a couple of pounds can do for your arthritis.

Be sure to request a diagnosis as soon as you suspect you may have arthritis. The quicker you are diagnosed, the better effect the treatments will have. This will means that you will have less pain because your joints will not get so damaged. If you have difficulty getting the care you need from your doctor, then start looking around for a new one.

Go to therapy. Independence may be difficult for people who suffer from arthritis, so therapy can help sufferers realize that they are not helpless. Arthritis may make you more likely to get depressed, if you go to therapy you can help these symptoms.

While a small injury may cause you to forgo a doctor visit, understand that scar tissue that develops from sprains and twists can lead to arthritis down the road. Have your doctor check for damages and wrap the injury properly.

Hopefully, you've learned a valuable tip or two that you can use to fight the discomfort or pain caused by your arthritis. Remember, these are only a few of the many pieces of advice that are out there and if nothing here helps, don't give up your search! Eventually, you'll find something that works for you.