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If you have arthritis, you must take the title of this article seriously – that means that you must really understand that you can still “LIVE” with arthritis. This is especially true if you learn the best ways to care for yourself and the condition.

This means that you must never “push” the issue when you notice that your arthritis is having some sort of exacerbation. One or two days of swelling and stiffness need to be monitored, but if your joints have been irritated and painful for a week or more you MUST head to the doctor right away. This is a clear sign that it is arthritis at work and not just soreness or strain of some kind.

Remember that there are over 100 kinds of arthritis (according to arthritis.org), but the most common are:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis – this is a chronic form of the disease and is known as an autoimmune disorder. It is distinguished by a serious inflammation in the lining of the joints that causes permanent damage and pain. It leads to eventual loss of function or even to complete disability. It is a progressive issue and patients that address it in its first stage (there are three known stages) tend to have better luck with managing the condition.

• Osteoarthritis – this is the most prevalent type of arthritis and is distinguished by the slow breaking down of cartilage in the joints of the body. Just like RA (Rheumatoid Arthritis) this version occurs in several stages and is best dealt with in the earliest forms.

Okay, you get it that “early treatment” is the way to go, but what does that actually involve? Generally, it is going to mean a medication, efforts at weight management, daily exercise, and program of self-administered treatments that use either applications of heat or of cold. You may also be trained on the ways to best protect your joints from further damage too. The thing about any and all early treatment plans is that they will always be very customized and based on the location and severity of the condition.

Regardless of this customization factor, however, there are some very general tips that almost any person with arthritis can benefit from following. For instance, you might think that using the joints is going to help strengthen them in the same way that using muscles develops them too. The reality is that you will actually want to avoid stress on the affected joints in the body.

This is the reason that weight loss, appropriate physical activity, and a reliance on assistive devices are all highly recommended by physicians and therapists alike. If you are already at a healthy body weight, don’t take the recommendation for weight loss seriously. Instead, develop a good plan for maintaining your current weight, but try very hard to add a lot of Vitamin C to your diet. This is because it is great for treating osteoarthritis and slowing its progression. In fact, according to arthritis.org “people whose diets contained the least amount of vitamin C were three times more likely to be diagnosed with arthritis than those who ate the most fruits and vegetables rich in the vitamin.”

The USDA suggests that the average female consume around 75 mg of the vitamin each day and that the average male consume around 90 mg. There are no adverse effects from high consumption of Vitamin C, and there are actually further benefits for those who consume it in the form of oranges or other citrus fruits. This is because the fruits provide a lot of folic acid which is a great way of reducing the side effects from common arthritis medications.

Weight loss can always be facilitated by exercise, and medical experts recommend that patients suffering from arthritis try to maintain or improve their range of motion and combat fatigue with a good exercise regimen. This is something that is best designed by your doctor or therapist because they will know what is going to be most beneficial to your condition. The key is to make the exercise a very regular part of your daily life and to make it a good mix of moderate to vigorous exercise to get the best results possible.

Interestingly enough, as you exercise you might want to consider adding the benefits of good music too. A study published in Arthritis Today explains a study that demonstrated the power of classical music in alleviating the soreness and pain so frequently experienced by arthritis patients. Interestingly enough, it was found that the rhythms of classical music usually encouraged the heart of the listener to beat in sync with the timing – or roughly 70 beats per minute – which is precisely the ideal pace for cardiovascular health!

We also mentioned that many patients are put on a protocol of medication in addition to being encouraged to maintain a good weight and to exercise frequently. The medications change often, but it is really beneficial to remain as well-informed about the subject as possible. There are several online drug guides available, and it behooves the patient to lookup any recommended treatments in order to understand the risks, possible benefits, and potential side effects.

Apart from these common tips, there are a handful of other fairly unique and interesting suggestions made by medical experts as well. They include:

• Considering calcium – it is known that a calcium rich diet combats osteoporosis, but it also combats the bone loss triggered by arthritis too. This means that you should be looking for good sources of calcium that will supply you with anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 mg per day. Food sources are usually better than supplements, and dairy products, salmon (with the bones) and broccoli are really excellent ways to get your fill.

• Don’t skip breakfast – though you may be a coffee-only person, you can greatly reduce the impact of your medical condition by eating a breakfast full of healthy fiber. For instance, fruit, oatmeal and water (yes, skipping caffeine is a wise choice if you are focused on calcium intake) is a much savvier and effective selection.

• Toss the heels – ladies love the way that high heels make their legs look, but the way that the average pump cramps and squeezes the feet is not good for the circulation throughout the legs and lower body. Simply switching over to a pair of comfortable and cute flats will help a woman to combat some of the issues brought on by arthritis. Men should pay attention to this tip as well and select shoes that provide ample room for heels and toes too.

• Take a bath – there are few people who don’t enjoy a long hot soak in a bathtub, but arthritis patients should really enjoy this luxury as often as they want. If you take a warm bath before your bedtime, you are going to ease tension and aches that will help you to enjoy a better rest. This is the real key to well-being – a fully-charged and healthy body prepared for each day’s challenges!

While arthritis is a permanent condition that can cause incredible discomfort and pain, you don’t have to just accept the problems. You can follow the tips given in this article to be more proactive about your care, and you will quickly see good results.