Rheumatoid Arthritis is not just an average discomfort pain – it’s an autoimmune disorder whose cause is not known. What is known is that Rheumatoid Arthritis can lead to permanent disability at any age.  Therefore, it is not just associated with older folks.

You may think of arthritis as a disease of older people, but Rheumatoid Arthritis is found in younger adults and even in children. So what can you do to keep from becoming disabled by Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Start with a nutritional consultation. You will need to make sure you’re eating a balanced diet with sufficient fish oils, antioxidants, zinc, selenium and Vitamins A-C-E. These vitamins and minerals are believed to be essential in helping the body fight off the effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

If you’ve been eating foods high in animal fat, you will need to drastically reduce those foods, and replace them with cold water fish for protein. Certain fruits like blueberries, blackberries and cherries are dense in flavonoids, which are also beneficial in supporting your immune system.

You can also experiment with alternative therapies. Hypnosis and visualization are widely used for all types of pain management. Learning hypnosis or visualization gives you a sense of control and the ability to deal with pain without taking drugs.

You can use these techniques anywhere, anytime for relaxation and stress reduction. Just knowing there’s something you can do to reduce pain lets you feel some sense of control with a disease that seems so out of control.

Although movement can be painful, some movements like yoga are very helpful for living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Join a class or work individually with an experienced Yoga trainer who can show you the moves that are designed to improve the areas of your body where Rheumatoid Arthritis is most painful.

The gentle stretches of yoga improve joint flexibility. Still more effective alternative therapies are acupressure and massage. Scheduling weekly treatments is both therapeutic and relaxing.

Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis means changing the way you do things. You may have to let some household chores go or get help with them. Cooking healthy foods is satisfying, but you may have to limit your four course Sunday dinners to a more reasonable option.

Trying to do too much, and pushing yourself toward perfection is simply not worth the pain and stress. Learning to ask for help can be one of the most difficult aspects of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Please be practical and consult your health care provider.