Strategies you can use on arthritis pain
By Herb Drill
I have arthritis in my neck and lower back and it exacerbates congenital Muscular Dystrophy.
That’s why I wrote “must attend” in my program book when I saw Stephen J. McCartney would present two sessions on arthritis during the World Congress on Disabilities & Expo (WCD, www.wcdexpo.com) at the
McCartney said his Arthritis Intensive Self-Care Workshop was designed to provide strategies individuals and health professionals can use to reduce arthritis pain, possibly slow disease progression, and overcome obstacles arthritis pain may cause. “You can’t choose whether you’ll get arthritis, but you can take steps to minimize its impact on your life. Causes of pain; physical problems caused by disease, weak or tense muscles, stress, depression, fatigue - exercise is one effective way to break this cycle at various points,” he observed.
At his first cession, McCartney offered, among other topics, an overview pf arthritis and fibromyalgia self-management, pain and cognitive symptom management; distraction techniques, and action planning. He went over dealing with problems; exercise for fun/fitness; identifying exercise barriers, and difficult emotions. In the second session, he delved into healthy eating; preventing and slowing osteoporosis; energy conservation; relaxation through guided imagery; medication usage, and dealing with depression.
In November, New York Film and Video Festival officials announced award winners in its latest competition. McCartney won for best health documentary, Arthritis: Up Close and Personal.
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WCD is one of the largest events for people with disabilities and all who are affected: family members, friends, healthcare professionals, caregivers, and educators.” William Schwaninger, president/CEO of WCD Expo Inc., added, “Adaptive race cars, stair-climbing wheelchairs, robotic wheelchair/conversion vans, revolutionary new urine disposal systems - and hundreds attended our conference program. The sports and recreation activity center again was a favorite destination, and the Career Fair gave job-seekers and employers a chance to explore relationships. Some of the world’s leading physicians and healthcare experts provided state-of-the-art solutions, while individuals who have conquered countless obstacles inspire others to defy difficulty and thrive,” he said. “Another winner was an exhibit showcasing the works of professional artists with disabilities, including arthritis” said Schwaninger. WCD will return to the
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Many arthritis forms are classified as systemic - they can affect the whole body and cause damage to virtually any organ or system: heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels, and skin. Together, arthritis and related conditions cost the U.S. economy more than $124 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses such as lost wages and productivity - and cost millions of people their health, physical abilities and, in many cases, independence.
McCartney explained rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system disease - “my mother is among the sufferers.” In a healthy person, the immune system keeps out or destroys “invaders" such as bacteria or viruses. For people with auto-immune diseases like RA, the immune system mistakes the body's cells as an invader and attacks. The object of the attack is the lining of the joints. RA is progressive, he said, and can continue to damage joints more over time and the damage done could become very severe.
As for pain management, McCartney urged WCD attendees to “identify the warning signs: swelling in one or more joints; early morning stiffness; recurring pain/tenderness in one or more joints; inability to move a joint normally; redness, warmth in a joint; unexplained weight loss, fever, weakness, combined with joint pain, and symptoms that last more than two weeks.” Your problem-solving steps “should include a list of ideas on what to do; an assessment of probable results; utilize all resources, and accept the problem may not be resolved now.”
McCartney envisions an action plan with “something reasonable you want to do; specific behavior, such as exercise for fun/fitness, and a high confidence that you will complete the entire action plan.”
Food, medication, and rest all play major roles. McCartney advises eating a variety of foods on a regular schedule, with a balanced breakfast; eating the same amount at each meal, and drinking 6-8 glasses of water - visit www.bottledwater.org and click hydration calculator. “You should inform your doctor of all medications and dosage; and determine the need for each one, using each as prescribed and reporting the effects. Also, go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every day - even weekends. Avoid caffeine, including chocolate, for four hours before bedtime and avoid alcohol near bed time. Most of all, if you have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea, treatment can make a real impact on your pain.”
As for any difficult emotion such as depression, McCartney suggested the audience “write down self-defeating thoughts and try to change them to be rational and helpful. Practice them and be patient with yourself.”
Understanding the tie between pain and mood will help with difficult emotions, McCartney said. He added, “Keep active when you have pain; this will take your mind off pain and help you feel better. Don’t be a martyr; tell friends and family you’re in pain. A request for help isn’t being dependent; it’s a direct, honest, and often necessary communication allowing them to help you. Remember, pain is related closely to stress and depression. Reducing them will ease pain.”
To “stay rejuvenated from arthritis pain,” McCartney suggests:
1. Rehydrate - learn how fluids are absorbed.
2. Healthy eating.
3. Environmental control - make your home user-friendly.
4. Exercise to improve flexibility, strength.
5. Rest/sleep well.
6. Form a support team.
7. Communicate any changes.
8. Don’t ignore pain; listen to your body.
9. Be patient.
10. Revisit your action plan and problem-solving techniques often.