How do I take care of my body better?

Question

Well i'm 17, and since I was about 10 i've been diagnosed with rheumetoid arthritis. I've been living every single day since then with massive amounts of pain in each and every joint, from my toes to my neck. I can't move as I should be able to for my age. I can't bend my knees all the way. I've tried exercising, I've tried going to physical therapy. I've been put on medicine. Nothing really helps. I just want to be normal, i've lived most my life in pain and discomfort. I wanna be able to be in shape and take a jog down the street without coming home crying in pain. Advice or help please?

Answer 1

ask a dr.

Answer 2

Awww, hon.  I'm so sorry.

People I know with rheumatoid arthritis that bad get shots that help.  I think they're steroids, but I'm not sure.

Yoga helps with my pain levels and flexibility a little.  A class doesn't fit my "peak" hours (hours when I'm not tired or in pain already), so I use Wii Fit.  It's no cure-all; it just helps a little.

Eating right always helps, of course.

And the only other thing I can think of is acupuncture or better yet, a tens unit.  Both are supposed to interrupt pain signals to the brain without major side effects.

I hope you have a specialist!  If not, please have your GP refer you, or find one!  Your case looks far too severe for the average MD.

Answer 3

Can you swim? If so, find a pool and spend much time in it. If you can't, learn to and do much of it. Swimming does wonders for the heart and for muscle toning without stressing out the joints as much as other exercises do.

Take Glucosamine Chondroitin triple strength vitamin supplements. The recommended dosage is 2 per day. It lubricates the joints and greatly reduces pain, and since they're just food supplements you can take them all the time. I do. Best wishes.

Answer 4

You should probably go to the doctors and tell them everything you just said on here. They might be able to help you.

Hope I helped!

=)

Answer 5

try to just eat right, take pain medication and learn about alternative treatments.

Try stretching and yoga slow movement should be calming. stay active to the best of your ability.  

Answer 6

Hi,

I am really sorry to hear that.  

First off, I would say to really increase your Vitamin D3, this is the vitamin that we get from the sun, also you can get it from tanning beds, and from cod liver oil. It is a very important vitamin that is so neglected. It is the cure for Ricis, a very serious disease that eat away at your bones, it can kill children. It has also been found to help people with Fibromyalgia. So Increase you intake of that, and try to get out into the sun for 15 minutes a couple of times a day.

Next I would take a look at your diet. If you eat foods that are really high in sodium (i.e. prepackaged foods) cut them out, try to keep your sodium level around 2500 mg and make sure you are getting enough potassium, using a light salt will help with this. When you eat too much sodium it makes your body swell and dry up from the inside, causing your pain to be greater

And Last Make sure you are drinking enough water, Water is so important if you have problems like yours. You should try to get at least 4 liters but more would be great. You pee should be a light yellow, almost clear. When this happens you know you are having enough.