What Should You Do ?

1) Exercise, exercise
Start with warming up the joints by massaging them or applying warm water on joints. After that you can start a stretching exercise or other forms of exercise as advised by your doctor.

If you do not find it pleasing, go for a walk. The most important thing is to keep active, because it will help to keep the joints functioning better. Gardening is okay, just make sure you sit rather than stoop when doing it.

2) Play with water
Water seems to be your biggest ally here. Try doing a hand exercise in a sink full of water to give it extra comfort. Hot and cold showers (alternate), Epsom salt bath and even that cool morning walk on wet grass would help. If you find exercising is difficult, enjoy a warm bath in the pool. The warm water helps loosen joints while the water buoyancy will reduce the strains on your joints.

3) Warmth and Comfort
Heat is good. When your joints aches, wrap it with a scarf to make it warm (wool scarf is recommended). Of course, gloves will help the joints on your hand too. Some patients reported that sleeping in a sleeping bag reduce the aches and pain in the morning. It is believed that the heat trapped in the bag is the cause

4) More vegetable
A lot of sufferers are heavy meat eaters; the food that is believed to have stimulates the gland to deposit extra calcium around the joints. So, reduce your meat consumption. Eat more vegetable (like celery); enjoy juices rather than coffee. Alcohol and tobacco consumption is a recipe for disaster.

5) Protect your joints
Avoid holding one position for a long time. Avoid activities that involve tight grip, use the palm to hold pots rather than gripping the handles. Get nonstick cookware, scrubbing your cooking utensils will only give you pain. Think of ways to reduce pain around the household e.g. use automatic can opener, use lighter tools.

6) Try alternative medicine