Living Well with Osteoarthritis

Cheryl Mashore LVN, CNWC
Director, Health Education

Living with arthritis can be overwhelming and disruptive. It can frustrate you, and prevent you from doing the things you love to do. It is, quite literally, a pain.

The pain and stiffness can make it difficult to perform the daily tasks that most people take for granted. Even things like getting dressed or cooking a meal can be exhausting. That is why, when you have arthritis, its especially important to take good care of yourself to help maintain function, relieve pain and cope with difficult emotions.

Currently there is no cure for osteoarthritis. But there are effective treatments that can greatly improve a person’s quality of life by relieving pain, protecting joints, and increasing range of motion in the affected joint. Treatment usually involves a combination of nondrug treatments such as heat, ice, healthy diet and exercise; medication for pain and inflammation; and the use of assistive devices such as canes or walkers.

Below are some self-care strategies to help live well with osteoarthritis.

Lose Weight - Reaching and staying at a healthy weight is one of the most important things you can do to reduce pain. This is especially true if you have OA in the hips or knees. A few pounds will help, but the closer you can get to your ideal bodyweight, the better for your pain and function.

Keep Moving - Exercise should be a central part of your self-care plan. Whatever type of exercise you enjoy and have access to is the type you should do. Walking, chair exercise, swimming, strength training, dancing, whatever it is, keep moving.

Organize - Organize work and storage areas; store frequently used items within easy reach. Keep duplicate household items in several places; for example, stock the kitchen and all bathrooms with cleaning supplies. Simplify life as much as possible. Eliminate unnecessary activities (for example, buy clothing that doesn’t need ironing).

Adaptive Aids - In the kitchen, use electric can openers and mixers. In the bathroom, cut down on scrubbing by using automatic toilet bowl cleaners and, in showers or tubs, spray-on mildew remover. Other devices on the market can help you avoid unnecessary bending, stooping, or reaching.

Ask for Help - Maintaining independence is essential to self-esteem, but independence at all costs is a recipe for disaster. Achieve a balance by educating family members and friend about your condition and your limitation, enlist their support and ask for their help when needed.

To help High Desert Medical Group members live well with osteoarthritis, we offer our “Living Well with Arthritis” class and the Empowered Relief Pain Management Class. For more information contact our Health Education Department at 661-951-3375 or hdmghealtheducation@hdmg.net.