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Arthritis Pain Relief and Prevention
Arthritis Pain Relief and Prevention Plan
A great place to begin taking charge of you arthritis pain relief and prevention planning
is by making an appointment with your healthcare provider and finding out more about your
condition and treatment options. Make sure to jot down questions ahead of time, and take
them along in your journal or notebook, armed with a pencil to fill in his or her replies.
Some questions to begin with may be centered around these...
Important Questions
- Do I have a form of arthritis? If not, what is wrong and what do I do next?
- If so, which type is it? And what can I expect short-term and long-term?
- What pain relief treatments are available? Which have side affects and what are they?
- What self-care solutions do you advise?
- Are there any limitations I should know about; i.e. special dietary issues, special
activities to avoid, any OTC meds to NOT mix, etc...?
- What resources do you have to help with my diet and exercise planning?
- What other arthritic and other health resources do you have for my family and me?
When you take in your questions, also take in a description of your symptoms so that your
doctor can help better understand your situation and health. Make sure to note:
- Where you have pain (same joint both limbs?)
- When you feel pain - with certain activities, in the morning, when it rains, etc...
- How long you have had the pain?
- If the pain increases or decreases, comes and goes, etc...
- The type and intensity level of pain - stabbing, dull, cramping, stiffness…and low,
mild or high pain.
- Note any limitations - can't bend over too far without pain, can't get out of car,
etc...
- Share any family history of arthritis
- Tell about any OTC or prescription medications or other treatments you currently take
or use.
- Discuss any special diet you are on and exercise programs
So try the different options available for arthritis pain relief and prevention. Give
your joints a break as soon as possible from any excess weight they're hauling around,
even if it's the weight of excess stress. And lighten up and make pain relief and
prevention care part of your normal, everyday routine.
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