Reducing Symptoms
“Since I get a lot of stiffness in my hands, I’ve found that wearing compression gloves at night helps reduce pain and morning stiffness,” she says. “Using paraffin wax on my hands also helps loosen up my hand and finger joints, and reduce pain.”
Dr. Singla also encourages her patients to remain as active as they can and to participate in low-impact activities that interest them, such as swimming, walking or biking.
“I’ve found personally that yoga and resistance training with weights help with my stiffness,” she says.
Because stress and RA are linked, with stress often setting off the immune system’s inflammatory response, Dr. Singla also recommends a wide array of mind-body therapies, such as talk therapy, support groups, art therapy, breathwork and meditation.
“In my own life, I now wake up each morning and do a six-minute meditation to start off my day,” Dr. Singla says. “It helps ease the stress that comes with balancing a busy career and motherhood. I think it works for me because this routine gives me some sense of control before the day even begins. It’s kind of like my emotional armor for the rest of the day.”
Linda Childers is a health writer located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
