Arthritis Tasmania

You can have arthritis and still get the most out of life. You don’t have to stop doing the things you love doing. Contact Arthritis Tasmania on 1800 011 041 for the latest information and for support in living well with your arthritis. Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041. Congratulations! Just by learning more about living well with arthritis means you are already on your way to successfully managing your arthritis and lessening its impact on your life.

“Speaking to my local Arthritis Foundation was the best thing I ever did. They have great information and really understand what it is like to live with arthritis”

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When you have arthritis, you need to find the right balance between work, activity and rest. Many people find arthritis a tiring disease particularly if they are in pain. If you find this to be the case, listen to your body and be guided by it. Rest when you are tired and don’t force yourself to work or exercise through pain. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• Balancing work, rest and play
• Saving energy

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“I alternate periods of activity and periods of rest to get the most out of my life – most importantly I make sure that I have the time and energy to have fun”

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There are many myths about food and arthritis. Unfortunately, most of it is wishful thinking. No diet has been proven by research to cure arthritis and there is very little scientific evidence that specific foods have an effect on arthritis. Except for gout, most foods will not have a direct effect on your arthritis, or on the pain and stiffness you experience. Be very cautious of special diets or supplements that claim to ‘cure’ arthritis or control its symptoms. A healthy, balanced diet is important for maintaining your weight and general wellbeing. For more information please refer to the following information sheets:

• Healthy eating and arthritis
• Diet and gout
• Fish oil and supplements

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“I used to eat for comfort and that just made me feel worse. Now I have a healthy diet and do regular exercise – I feel better than I have in years!”

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It is natural to feel frustrated, angry, scared and even depressed at the prospect of having arthritis. Many people with arthritis fear what the future might hold and are frightened by the impact arthritis might have on their everyday life. It is not unusual either for a young person to feel especially angry or depressed at being diagnosed with a disease that is mistakenly thought to affect only ‘old’ people. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• On how to cope with the changes arthritis brings
• Dealing with emotions
• Sex and arthritis

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“I used to hide my feelings and bottle it up, this just made it worse. Now I have a support team who I can talk to”

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You may have to accept that sometimes medicines, physical therapies and other treatments cannot relieve all of your pain. Pain may limit some of the things you do, but it doesn’t have to control your life. There are many techniques you can use to cope with pain so you can go on living your life the way you want to. Your mind plays an important role in how you feel pain. Thinking of pain as a signal to take positive action rather than being scared or worried about it can be helpful. Also you can learn ways to manage your pain. What works for one person may not work for another, so you may have to try different techniques until you find what works best for you. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• Things you can do to deal with your pain
• Medicines and arthritis
• Workshops on pain management

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“Relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing help to decrease muscle tension and stress”

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Research has found that regular exercise is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis. Physical activity helps broadly in two ways. Firstly, exercise will help your arthritis by:

• decreasing the pain and increasing flexibility in your joints and muscles
• strengthening muscles; and improving your posture and balance.

Secondly, regular exercise will improve your overall health. This means you will be able to do more in life, feel more in control of your arthritis and be better able to manage your pain. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• Physical activity and arthritis
• Examples of exercises suitable for people with arthritis
• Maintaining healthy bones

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet call the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“Attending my warm water exercise class keeps me mobile and helps with my pain – I just love it”

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There are many treatments to relieve pain and stiffness and slow the development of your arthritis. Work with your healthcare team to find a combination of treatments that best suits:

• your type of arthritis and the joints affected
• the amount of pain or other symptoms you experience, and its impact on your lifestyle.

A treatment program may include a combination of:

• Physical therapies including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry
• Medicines including prescription, non-prescription and complementary medicines
• Exercise, healthy eating, finding a balance between activity and rest
• Pain management techniques such as relaxation and meditation; and
• Emotional and social support

For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• Medicines and arthritis
• Complementary therapies
• Supplements and arthritis
• Physical activity
• Healthy Eating
• Massage and arthritis

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet, telephone the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“My key to managing my arthritis means balancing my physical activity and rest, eating well and being surrounded by supportive people”

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And be an important part of it. The best way to live well with arthritis is by working closely with your healthcare team. It may include a variety of healthcare specialists such as doctors, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, nurses, psychologists and complementary medicine practitioners. Your doctor may also refer you to a rheumatologist - a specialist in conditions that affect the joints and the structures around them. Remember, you are the most important member of your healthcare team. Make sure you establish and maintain good communication with all the other members. For more information refer to the following information sheet:

• How to work effectively with your healthcare team

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet, telephone the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“I know my body best, so it makes sense that I be a key member of my healthcare team”

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Because arthritis can get worse if left untreated, you need to see your doctor as early as possible to get a proper diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment can limit the effects of arthritis on your life and help you stay active and independent.

What to expect when you go to the doctor

When you first visit your doctor, you will be asked a number of questions about your symptoms including:

• How long you have experienced pain?
• Which joints are affected?
• When you get pain and what seems to cause it?
• What makes the joint feel better or worse?
• Whether anyone else in your family has had arthritis or joint pain?

Your doctor may also order tests. Diagnosis can often be difficult and may take several visits to your doctor before the type of arthritis is diagnosed. This is because there is often no single test to diagnose some types of arthritis and the symptoms can be similar to other forms of arthritis. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• The types of arthritis
• Arthritis and specific joints of the body
• Blood tests for arthritis

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet, telephone the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“Early diagnosis and treatment can limit the effects of arthritis on your life”

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With arthritis, knowledge is invaluable. Many people with arthritis say that learning about their condition and what they can do about it gives them back a feeling of control over their lives and their health.

Arthritis - what is it?

Arthritis is not a single disease. The word ‘arthritis’ is a name for a group of more than 100 conditions that affect the joints. Arthritis can affect many different parts of the joint and nearly every joint in the body. People can be affected in all sorts of different ways but the most common symptoms of arthritis are pain, stiffness and swelling in one or more joints. The three most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Sometimes getting a true understanding about your condition can be a bit like a puzzle – information gives you the pieces bit by bit. For more information refer to the following information sheets:

• What is arthritis?
• Different types of arthritis
• Symptoms of the most common types of arthritis

Or to request your copy of ‘10 Steps to Living Well with Arthritis’ booklet, telephone the Arthritis Helpline on 1800 011 041.

“once you have a diagnosis, there is a lot you can do”

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