A Positive Attitude

Your mind plays a very important role in how you feel. If you tell yourself that you don´t feel good, then you won´t. You have to keep a positive attitude. Don´t let your pain take control of your life. If you try to build your life around your wellness instead of the pain, you will be a lot better off. Have a sense of humor, and don´t forget to smile.

Pooper Scoopers

If you have a pecan tree or other kind of nut tree, using one of those long-handled pooper scoopers can make picking them up easier. You can purchase them at pet stores or variety stores like Wal-Mart.

Environment

A supportive environment in very important for a child or teen with arthritis. It will help them feel like they are not alone and it will also help the stress.

Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation is a great organization that´s main goal is to help fund research for cures and treatments for arthritis. They provide all kinds of information and they can be a great help. You can contact your local Arthritis Foundation and they can help you find a doctor in your area and other programs.
Here is the link to there website- http://www.arthritis.org

Comfortable Clothing

Going to the doctor can be stressfull enough without feeling uncomfortable. Try wearing clothes that you are going to feel comfortable in, like a pair of sweatpants or t-shirt. Also, it is probably a good idea to wear shoes that are comfortable and easy to get off and on in case the doctor wants to check your feet.

Breathing

You should never hold your breath when your exercising. You need to breath out and breath in. Counting outloud will help you breath correctly.

Oregano

A lot of people don´t know this, but oregano is a powerful disease fighter. Oregano has higher antioxidant power than most veggies, fruits, and spices. Try incorporating oregano into your everyday diet. Sprinkle it on omelets, salads, pizza, pastas, and whatever else sounds yummy.

Generic Medications

If your having problems affording your medication, ask your physician or pharmacist about a generic brand. They will still help you just as much as the other, but won´t cost you as much.

Dietitian

It is very important that anyone with an illness eats properly. If you feel like you can´t plan well-balanced meals, consider talking to a dietitian. A dietitian can help you plan meals that are healthy and well-balanced.

Alcohol

If you consume more than two alcoholic drinks a day, you could be causing more problems than you know. Alcohol weakens your bones and can increase your chances of getting osteoporosis. Try to drink alcohol in moderation.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a practice where small, thin needles go into the skin at specific points on the body. This procedure is used to help reduce moderate pain. It is generally safe and has few side effects. If you are interested, talk to your doctor about it.

In Case Of An Emergency

In case of an emergency, keep a flashlight, some matches, and a candle by your bedside. Also, you should keep a pair of shoes to protect your feet in case there is broken glass.

Do As Told

Always take the right dose of medication on the prescribed schedule, and always take the full course of medication. Never change anything without talking to your doctor.

Planning Your Meals

Try planning your meals at the beginning of each week and also make your grocery list out at the same time.

Buddy System

If you get bored real easily when you exercise or don´t like to exercise by yourself, try finding a close friend or family member that would be will to exercise with you. You both can be a great encouragement to each other.

Poetry/Story Writing

Most children have very creative minds. Try encouraging writing. It will be very helpful when they get into high school. Who knows? They might write a poem or story that will be published.

YMCA

Some YMCAs offer different kinds of exercise programs like water aerobics and yoga. Talk to you doctor first and if he says that you would benefit from it. Then call your local YMCA and see what programs they offer.

Refills On Medication

Before you go to the doctor, check all your medications and see if you need any refills. Make a list of the medications you need and their strengths. If you add the strengths to the medication, this will save him from having to search through your records to find it. That way all you have to do is hand the doctor the list and he can write the prescriptions. This will save you and the doctor time.

Smoke Alarms

You need to make sure to have smoke alarms in various rooms in your home. Also, it is important that you have carbon monoxide detectors. You should check the batteries at least twice a year. For those living in the United States, let me suggest that you check them each time we switch to and from daylight savings.

Exercise

If you are looking for something to help you sleep, exercise in the late evening. Believe it or not, exercise can help you relax and, by bedtime, you should be tired enough to fall right to sleep. Only do this, though, if your body is feeling up to it.

Visualization

There are two types of visualization which will both help you be able to relax more easily. The first type is where you concentrate on pleasant scenes. They can be scenes from your past or you can just make them up. Try to remember every little detail about a past vacation and it will possibly let you relive it or just create your own. The second type is where you try to imagine your pain. An example is you might imagine that your swollen knee is bright red and, after you create this, you try to change it. Watch the red slowly disappear until the pain is gone. This will help your stress and pain disappear.

Slippery Bathtubs or Showers

Your bathtub and shower can become very slippery. Try using rubber mats in the bathtub or shower to prevent slipping.

Fire Safety

If you think that you would have trouble escaping from your home if there was a fire, you should contact your local fire department. If you do so, and there is ever a fire, the firemen will be informed that you need extra help because of health problems.

Remission

Remission is a period of time that your disease is controlled or not active. You still need to be careful though, because although you feel better during remissions, that doesn´t mean you´re cured.

Herbal Tea

Try drinking a warm cup of herbal tea for relief of stress and fatigue. It is soothing and a great way to relax. Or, if you don´t like herbal tea, try a warm glass of milk.

Rest

When you have any disease, rest is very important. You need to make sure you get the proper hours of sleep and make sure you rest between activities. If you don´t get the proper amount of rest, it can cause your disease to flare.

Fire Extinguishers

You should make sure to keep fire extinguishers in different parts of your home. You need to also make sure that when you buy them, you understand how to use them and that it is not too hard for your hands to press.

Mail

If you have trouble getting to the mailbox, you can contact your local post office and they can have it delivered straight to your door.

Baths

For relief of stress and fatigue, taking a warm bath can help you relax. Try taking one before you go to bed. It will relax your body and help you fall to sleep more easily.

Anger

Allow your child to express anger about having arthritis. Explain to them, that arthritis is not caused by anything he or she did.

Scrubbing The Floors

If you have arthritis in your knees, it can be hard to scrub the floors. Use a partially filled hot-water bottle to kneel on.

Carrying The Trash Out

If it is hard for you to carry the trash out every day, or are just tired of it, consider buying a trash compacter. It will keep you from having to take the trash out every day.

Music

Listening to some soothing music can help your body and mind relax. Find somewhere comfortable to sit or lay down, then listen to some calm music or nature sounds. It might even help if you played the soothing music while you took a nice warm bubble bath.