About This Column
Here you'll find advice on how to take a more comprehensive approach toward managing your rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Keep in mind, this column is intended to advise you on how to complement your treatment, not replace it. Please consult your doctor to determine what advice may be right for you.
Featured Article
Balancing Act:
Avoiding Falls When RA is a Factor
Apr 30, 2008
For most people, falling down is a momentary discomfort or embarrassment. But for people living with RA, a fall can be a lot more serious. Breaking a bone or getting severely bruised can increase the pain and discomfort you already feel, and injuries may take a long time to heal or even cause permanent damage that requires physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Clumsy or not, there are many other reasons why people with RA can lose their balance and fall:
Reduced muscle strength and mass
Slowed reflexes
Loss of footing
Vision loss
Side effects from medications
While you can never completely erase the possibility of a fall, you can take precautions to better protect yourself:
Exercise regularly: Exercise is important for just about anyone at any age, but it may be even more valuable to people living with RA. The right exercise program can help relieve the pain of RA and help maintain muscle and bone strength, which are crucial for balance. Together with your rheumatologist and a physical trainer, you can develop an exercise program that's appropriate for you
Keep your path free and clear: You can reduce your risk of falling by being aware of your environment, whether at home or at the office. And don't take chances. Climbing on kitchen chairs or stepping on boxes to grab an out-of-reach item can lead to loss of footing and injury. For additional tips on how to fall-proof your home, visit the Managing Your Pain & Stress page
Talk with your doctor about your meds: Prescription diuretics (water pills), muscle relaxers, tranquilizers, and some medications for pain, blood pressure, and the heart can increase your risk of falling. Also, some over-the-counter cold, flu, and allergy medications that contain antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine) can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision—all factors that may contribute to a fall. It's important to be well informed about any treatment you are taking. Ask your doctor any questions you may have about your medications and their potential side effects
I hope the above tips are helpful and informative. I encourage you to do all that you can to protect your body and your joints from the hazard of falls.
Managing Pain and Stress
