HealthInfo Canterbury
Self-care with inflammatory arthritis
Although there's no cure for inflammatory arthritis, there are many things you can do to reduce pain and stiffness and to help prevent joint damage and disability.
- Have regular check-ups with your GP. Your doctor can advise you on treatment options and other things you can do to help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Your doctor will monitor you after you start on preventative maintenance treatment, and you'll need to have regular blood tests.
- Try some non-drug treatments, such as physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy. Ask your GP or rheumatologist about these options, and how you can access them.
- Stop smoking as this can increase your risk of inflammatory arthritis.
- Eating well and aiming for a healthy weight can improve your overall health and wellbeing.
- Keep physically active to help keep your joints flexible and your muscles strong. Your GP will be able to give you general advice about physical activity. Tai chi, walking, swimming and gentle exercise classes are all excellent for arthritis. Your doctor can refer you to a physiotherapist for more detailed advice on specific exercises.
- Also see Arthritis New Zealand – Physical Activity for more information about the benefits of keeping active.
- Contact Arthritis New Zealand. They offer a range of services to people who are affected with all types of arthritis, and several programmes that cover aspects of managing this group of conditions. You can also discuss individual self-management with a trained arthritis educator.
Financial support
For information about funding that your GP might be able to use to reduce the cost of your health care, see Funding schemes at your general practice.
To find out about the disability allowance benefit, see Disability allowance.
Transport and parking has information about mobility parking permits, the Total Mobility half-price taxi scheme, and other transport options.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Arthritis Australia – 10 steps for living well with arthritis
This is a 40-page detailed brochure with tips and guidelines on living well with arthritis.
On the next page: Medications for inflammatory arthritis
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed May 2021.
Review key: HIRPA-18707
