Living with arthritis not only predisposes you to other conditions, but it can also affect the quality of life. When you have joint pain, swelling, and damage to your hips, feet, knees, and ankles, it becomes difficult to perform daily tasks because some parts of your body cannot move comfortably. While over-the-counter medications can help alleviate the symptoms, it is highly unlikely that you will enjoy long-term benefits. Seeing a specialist for arthritis in Dundalk is the only bet you have at getting your life on track.
Arthritis and Daily Life
Arthritis can affect your daily life in the following ways:
Walking
Since arthritis is likely to affect how your limbs move, it will be challenging to walk longer distances. Even if you succeed, chances are you will start experiencing pain and swelling in your feet. To help reduce the symptoms, which can interfere with your mobility, your doctor may recommend medications and other treatments. But if you have severe arthritis, it is best to find out from a doctor at CHOICE Pain and Rehabilitation Center whether you qualify for joint replacement surgery.
Climbing Up and Down the Stairs
In a typical scenario climbing up or down the stairs should not be difficult. It is common for people to lose their breath, but that is only temporary because it is a physical exercise. However, when you have arthritis, you are likely to experience physical limitations caused by your feet, knees, ankles, and hips. It gets worse when you try shifting weight from one leg to the other in a bid to maneuver your steps. If your job involves climbing the stairs, it would be best to wear foot or ankle supports to make it easier.
Kneeling, Bending, and Stooping
Whether you want to lift an object or pick something up from the floor, you will need your back, hips, ankles, and knees to provide you with mobility. When you have arthritis, it becomes challenging to perform the simplest of tasks. This significant limitation when kneeling, bending, or stooping becomes difficult unless you use assistive devices, such as those with longer handles. These devices can help compensate for the limited range of motion.
Performing Household Chores
Just as everyone goes to work to earn a living, people like to conduct household chores such as cleaning, cooking, making the bed, and many others. To a person without arthritis, performing these tasks are a simple part of daily life. But when it gets to a point where you experience joint pain and swelling after the house chores, it can be daunting to look forward to doing them.
See a Specialist for Arthritis Treatment
Pain and suffering associated with arthritis can be quite frustrating, and it may make you react by avoiding both prioritized and optional activities. Seeing a specialist for diagnosing your condition’s severity and devising the best medical plan is the only bet you have at living in everyday life. To find out more about arthritis, consult a doctor today.