Five ways to enjoy the festive season when you have arthritis

Five ways to enjoy the festive season when you have arthritis

Self 5 ways to party at your own pace Christmas can be a really sociable time of year, so heres how to enjoy the festivities without overdoing it Words: Georgina Maric W hether its work or friends parties, drinks, dinner suddenly there will be lots of events on offer that may make you feel a bit panicky about whether youll be able to last the course. Dr Dawne Garrett, Professional Lead, Older People and Dementia Care at Royal College of Nursing, gives her tips on how to pace yourself so you can still have a good time, without affecting your health. First, she says: Go out, enjwoy yourself and have a lovely time. Do not be dictated to you are living with arthritis, it is not controlling you. 1 2 3 4 5 All in the planning Stand The key is pacing and planning your activity, says Dr Garrett. If one day you know you are going to be really busy and have lots of stuff going on, try to plan in some downtime the next day, so you can rest. Take short breaks during busy days and, if you are going to be standing a lot, make sure theres an opportunity to take a five-minute break, so you can take the weight off your joints. Enjoy it Dont be too worried about trying to conserve energy you need to make time for enjoying yourself. The social and psychological benefits of going out and meeting people can sometimes outweigh the issues of pain and discomfort. Dont over-indulge in the booze Watch alcohol consumption at parties, particularly if you are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as they inflame the gut if you drink when taking them. This is likely to give you stomach problems. If you are taking painkillers that contain codeine, avoid alcohol altogether. Look after yourself This can be the time of year when you see people you dont normally see, so making sure you have your flu jab will be helpful. Not over-indulging in food and drink is really important, too. Its nice to have treats, but dont over-do it calorie-wise, as keeping your weight within the healthy BMI range is important. Let people know If you think its better to let people know in advance how you might feel, then dont be embarrassed to say you need to rest. If you dont want to say anything, then its important to have some downtime the day after youve done a lot of activity. You may prefer to take painkillers before you know you are going to be active, but the advice is to be guided by your pain. THE SPOON THEORY Have you tried the spoon theory? Invented by a woman with lupus, it was her way of explaining how she structures her day to manage her symptoms and the sudden drop in energy levels that are all too common for those with long-term conditions. The idea is that you have a limited number of spoons available for the day and each action will cost a given number of them. The more demanding the task, the more spoons are needed. When you are running low on spoons, this can be a way of telling others how you are feeling, that you may need more help, or you may have to stop what youre doing and rest. This can help people empathise with how much of an impact pain can have on your day-to-day life. TIPS FROM THOSE IN THE KNOW Heres what you told us on Twitter Dont be afraid to say no. Wendy Turner Dont sit or stand for too long. Take breaks and, if possible, go outside for fresh air. Sitting at a table for too long is bad, as your limbs become stiff and painful when you get up. Katie Russell Find an amazing pair of sparkly flats! Kalpana Boodhoo If you want to hold an event at home, ask others to help whether its with cleaning beforehand, bringing a dish to the event, or cleaning up afterwards. Being a co-host makes things easier if you need to go lie down and rest! Christina Serrao Have a little sleep in the afternoon if you can. I always drive, so I can go home when I want to and dont have to wait on anyone else. Sally Stay off processed food and wine. Post-Christmas, I always seem to have a blip in health abnormal bloods = disruption to meds = pain. Manage it to avoid flares. Ian Smith Dont try to keep up with everyone, and have nonalcoholic versions of your favourite beer or wine. This saves me double the pain the next day. Laura