Living with arthritis
Having arthritis doesn’t mean you have to miss out on doing the things you love.
Although arthritis can be difficult to live with, there are many simple measures that can help anyone with arthritis manage their symptoms and cope with daily life.
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10 steps for living well with arthritis
Here is our 10 steps checklist to help you live with arthritis.
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Managing at home
You might find some tasks cause pain or strain, and other activities become almost impossible. But don’t give up just yet! There are many ways that you can protect your joints from pain and strain and also make jobs around the home easier to manage.
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Healthy eating
The best diet for arthritis is a healthy, balanced diet, yet there are still many myths about food and arthritis. Get the facts about health eating and arthritis here.
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Dealing with pain
Living with pain can be one of the hardest parts of having arthritis. Understanding the pain cycle and learning techniques that may help you cope with pain are an important part of managing your arthritis.
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Emotions
Anxiety and depression are common in people with arthritis. The good news is that there are effective treatments both for arthritis and for anxiety and depression.
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Physical activity and exercise
Physical activity and exercise is extremely important for managing an arthritis condition. It can improve mobility and flexibility of joints, muscle strength posture, and balance. It can also decrease pain, fatigue (tiredness), muscle tension and stress.
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Complementary treatments and therapies
‘Complementary therapies’ are any treatments or therapies that are not part of the conventional treatment (such as medicines or surgery) of a disease, such as complementary therapies include acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, vitamin and mineral supplements and herbal medicines.
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Sex and arthritis
Sometimes the physical and emotional symptoms associated with arthritis can affect relationships, including sexual expression and enjoyment. However, there are ways to overcome these challenges.
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Fatigue and arthritis
Fatigue is a feeling of both physical and mental tiredness. It is often described as exhaustion or a lack of energy, and can make everyday tasks seem impossible. However, there are many ways to manage fatigue.
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Pregnancy
Get the information you need about arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis) and pregnancy, conceiving, fertility, labour and delivery, and breastfeeding.
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Caring and arthritis
Most people with arthritis wish to remain as independent as possible, so trying to find the right balance between providing help without being overly protective can be a challenge for carers.
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Roadmaps for your arthritis
Arthritis Australia has worked with The Targeted Therapies Alliance to develop information and resources for consumers, including practical tools and roadmaps for people with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
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