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If you’re living with arthritis, you’re living with pain.
Granted, some people have a manageable degree of pain that can be
controlled with regular doses of over-the-counter or prescription
medications. Others have more severe pain that affects their
activity level, their ability to concentrate, and their overall
enjoyment of life. If this is you, or someone you love, don’t
give up. Instead, develop a pain management plan. You’ll first
need to identify the source of the pain.
As the Arthritis Foundation reports, arthritis pain is caused by
several factors, including:
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Inflammation, which causes the joints to swell. |
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Damage to joint tissues, from stress, injury or pressure. |
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Fatigue, which makes the pain seem worse and harder to handle. |
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Depression or stress, which cause a vicious cycle of physical pain and emotional silence. |
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The Social Security Administration will be sending a letter and
application out this summer to low income Medicare beneficiaries.
The letter is about the new Medicare Prescription Drug program.
Please be assured that you do not need to complete the
application. Since you are members with Medicare and MedCal, and
a member of SCAN, no action is needed from you. You will continue
to receive prescription savings.
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As you can see from the list above, physical factors aren’t the
only things that contribute to your level of pain. Being scared,
depressed or anxious can cause you to focus on the pain, which
just makes the problem worse. Accept the fact that dealing with
the pain is probably the hardest part of having arthritis. Then
set out to do just that. Be sure you’re accurately describing
your pain symptoms (stabbing, throbbing, constant) and severity
to your doctor so he or she knows what you’re living with and can
treat accordingly. Ask for recommendations for medications,
topical pain relievers, and appropriate forms of exercise,
massage, and how to use heat and cold treatments.
Once you have the physical management underway, work on the
mental management. Distracting yourself may sound simplistic –
but try it and see if it works for you. Watch a funny movie or
get thoroughly engrossed in an activity of any kind – a mystery
book, a great game of cards, whatever will turn your focus
elsewhere.
Sure you’ll have your “down” days, but don’t stay down. Give
yourself a timeframe, perhaps until lunchtime. Then make lunch
the turning point – fix yourself your favorite sandwich or call a
friend to see if they can join you or meet for a cup of coffee
afterwards or an ice cream in the afternoon. If you have to live
with pain, after all, you may as well really live.
Find out more about living with arthritis on page 111 of
Healthwise for Life.
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