Pain is the most universally reported symptom in arthritis and related diseases. The way one person reacts to pain can be very different from the way another person reacts. It is hard to define pain because it can be acute (short term) or chronic (long term) affecting the person physically and emotionally. It is not unusual for a person with arthritis, who may have been living with pain for a long time, to feel upset or distressed because of the pain. Also, arthritis often has an unpredictable course with pain being worse sometimes while at other times it doesn’t seem so bad.

Chronic pain can be exhausting making you feel down and unmotivated. Therefore, the successful management of pain in arthritis needs to be tailored to your needs. The good news is that a great deal can be done to mange your pain with many resources available to help.

Challenging Arthritis is our internet-based self-help program, which has a module on pain management with exercises and activities to help you. It's available either as an internet-based program or hard copy. The module looks at:

• Pain and arthritis
• The pain gate and pain cycle
• Pain management
• Pain and sleep
• Pain management plan

Click here for more information

Challenging Arthritis' Managing Pain module contains excellent advice on how to manage your pain, and recommends exercises you can do to assist you. The picture at left is a sample screen from the Managing Pain module. Challenging Arthritis has had very favourable reviews from health professionals - if you haven't already joined this program, we urge you to do so - and live well with your arthritis.

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