Arthritis patients often have difficulty going about their lives because of chronic pain that makes even simple tasks like opening jars a struggle. If this is you, keep reading. The following article will give you some helpful information on how you can go about managing this painful condition and make your life more livable.

If you are a smoker, you should quit. You should also avoid being around smokers. Cigarette smoke contains nicotine, which reduces blood flow to the extremities. This can produce short-term pain relief. The reduction in blood flow, however, has a negative effect on joint health, which will increase the severity of arthritis over time.

Make sure you consult your doctor prior to changing the schedule of your medication. There are medications out there that have to build up in your body before they work. There are also those that can have withdrawal effects.

Ice packs or heat pads are great to relieve joint pain. Alternate use of a heating pad and an ice pack for even better results. Discuss this with your doctor to see if they have additional recommendations.

High heels are not a good option for women who are suffering with arthritis. High heels may seem attractive, however, the damage they do to your feet and body is not. They tend to cause a twisting pressure on your knees, which can only aggravate the arthritis in these crucial, complicated joints. Try wearing comfortable shoes so that you can diminish your arthritis pain. Your arthritic knees will respond gratefully.

Exercising is great for reliving tightness in your joints; just make sure they are low impact exercises such as cycling, swimming or even just walking. Talk to your doctor to make sure you do not exert yourself too much.

It might seem hard to do but you should exercise often if you have arthritis. If your joints aren’t getting enough exercise, they become tired, which results in your arthritis becoming much worse. Those afflicted with arthritis can really benefit from exercises meant to increase flexibility, as they work to improve range of motion.

If you have gone through numerous arthritis treatments without success, you should consider speaking to your doctor to see if joint surgery is something you might need. There are effective surgeries that can reverse the effects of arthritis that affect the flexibility and mobility of your joints.

Relaxing music can be a great aid when you are trying to deal with arthritis pain. Soothing music helps your body relax and that softens the pain you feel. As an additional benefit, this music can be used as a sleep aid when your arthritis is keeping you up at night.

Patients that are afflicted with osteoarthritis in either or both knees should ask their arthritis specialists about electrical stimulation therapy. This type of treatment has been shown to be great at reducing pain and swelling in the knees due to arthritis.

If you’re a chronic arthritis sufferer who experiences problems like those described in the beginning of this article, you know how debilitating your disorder is. We hope you’ve learned something from this article that you can apply to become a happier, healthier person who has an easier time living.