Many times, chronic arthritis can reduce the enjoyment of your life. Even everyday tasks can be a struggle. If you find this to be true, read on. In this article you will find advice to help you manage arthritis and make your life more pleasant.

Never eliminate or change a medication without talking to your doctor first. Some drugs do not work quickly, so it is important to give them time before concluding that they are not working. Others can cause serious withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking them suddenly.

Both cold and hot treatments can be effective when alternated. Switching between these two treatments will reduce swelling, and also help ease any pain that you are feeling. Realize that it’s easy to over-exercise your joints without even realizing it. Be sure to not overdo it with icing, as you may end up causing more harm than good. Aim for a maximum of two daily treatments.

Joint surgery can be a final option if no medication works to appease your arthritis symptoms. This surgery has been effective for many arthritis sufferers, increasing joint flexibility and mobility.

Apply a damp heating pad to a painful joint to get temporary relief. Moist heating pads made specifically for arthritis sufferers can help alleviate pain and restore functionality. Even though these pads provide relief from pain, you still need to speak with your physician.

For any pain that causes you fatigue, try heat pads. For arthritis sufferers, applying heat is more effective than ice. Fatiguing pain is treated best with warmth, as this restores energy and gets rid of the pain.

Make use of appropriate mechanical aids to make hard jobs easier. If lifting heavy objects or you need to stand a long time, take precautions to protect the joints from extra pressure to avoid further damaging them. Damaging your joints further will result in more pain, and it is helpful to refrain from strenuous activity.

Ask your doctor to check for nutritional deficiencies on a regular basis. Being low in certain vitamins or minerals, like vitamin B-12 or iron, can cause havoc for arthritis sufferers. It exacerbates the symptoms. Having this checked on a regular basis can help lessen the risk of pain, because you’ll be able to maintain healthy levels.

Slim down. If you’re overweight and have arthritis, it can cause swelling and inflammation. Extra weight can strain your joints more, which can cause flare ups. Losing a few pounds will lower the intensity level and number of occurrences of your flare ups.

Becoming more active and beginning a weight loss program can really have a positive impact on your arthritis. Weight can be a major factor in arthritis pain. When you lose some weight, you will lose some pain. The amount of your arthritic suffering that gets relieved by dropping just five or ten pounds can really be eye-opening.

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.