It is important to note that arthritis pain can disrupt daily activities at home or at work. Proper management of pain is vital as well as reducing its overall negative impact. Can certain actions control pain or some routines actually increase the pain level? Whether the pain is acute or chronic, there are ways that can actually increase the arthritis pain. This is the reason why an individual with arthritis should pay close attention on his/her activities.
If the individual pushes way past his/her physical limits, it results to increased arthritis pain. Many individuals have a list of activities to perform on a daily basis. As he/she progresses with the tasks, the individual starts to feel tired and the pain becomes intense. In most cases, the individual is uncertain if he/she can continue but push the body to finish what is in the list.
Not listening to the body and pushing more than what the body can do can lead to increased pain. This typically occurs if the individual does not pace himself/herself.
Lack of exercise
Remember that exercise can actually ease or reduce chronic pain due to arthritis. Regular, mild movements will keep the muscles toned as well as help build up flexibility and strength. If the individual does not engage in any exercise routine, the muscles become weak and oftentimes reach the point of atrophy that will surely lead to weakness and pain.
Not enough rest or relaxation
Activity must be balanced with rest and relaxation. If there are no periods of rest and relaxation, the body reacts by transmitting pain signals. In case the individual maintains a high level of activity and intensity without proper balance, the cycle of pain and fatigue is repeated, thus intense pain is triggered.
Skipping on medications
Prescription medications given by the doctor must be taken based on the instructions. The directions include the right way to take the medication in order to achieve the most effect. Once the individual starts to skip on doses, the body is not allowed to respond to the medication properly. Skipping on medications can lead to increased pain.
Those who are overweight can affect the weight bearing joints and increase arthritis pain. It is recommended to cut down excess weight to provide relief to the joints.
Lack of sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is a vital part of a good health regimen. Individuals who are diagnosed with arthritis conditions are known to suffer from sleep problems. Generally, there is high prevalence of sleep problems in several health conditions with pain often disrupting the sleep process and at the same time; the sleep problem interacts with the disease process.
Lack of joint protection
It is vital to protect the joints using assistive devices, using supports, observing proper body mechanics and adequate rest for the joints. Remember that these can reduce the risk of increasing the pain as well as damaging the joints.
High levels of stress
Being stressed out can increase arthritis pain and make it difficult for those who have chronic pain conditions such as arthritis to cope with extra burdens imposed by the disease. Remember that stress, immune function and disease are interconnected. Once the level of stress is high, it can worsen the pain.