Is it true that arthritis pain flairs up as a person’s stress levels increase? Researchers first documented this correlation three years ago, during a particularly stressful point in a patients job search. The idea that the patient's perceived joint pain was stress related did not occur to her. She had convinced herself that the pain wasn’t real. But the joint pain quickly became hard to dismiss as fictional. Researchers began to investigate a possible link, and quickly found that, unlike the false health scare that vaccinations lead to arthritis; stress related joint pain has much supporting evidence. A study conducted by Dr. Alex J. Zautra of Arizona State University concluded that subjects with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis reported experiencing increased arthritis pain in response to weekly elevations in perceived stress, depression, and negative events. The abundance of testimonial evidence supports the same conclusion. Although researchers have reached a general consensus on the existence of a stress-pain link, the strength of the link is still in question. As stress and pain levels are immeasurable, it is difficult to quantify the link between stress and pain. Research indicates that how the subject perceives negative events and responds to stress plays a large role in the level of reported pain increase. For example, one may consider a particular situation as a source of stress, while another may view it as trivial. This is the human element which science struggles to properly explain. While it doesn’t take an academic research article to show that the battle against arthritis pain is a mental as well as a physical game, it is refreshing knowing there is an accepted link between one’s mental state and physical pain. Those living with arthritis must be especially aware of this relationship. During a patients job search, she found herself teetering on the edge of a perpetual down spiral of external stress increasing my arthritis pain and increased arthritis pain causing her more stress. With knowledge of this danger, the patient recently altered the way she manages her Rheumatoid Arthritis. She has begun to treat her arthritis as a mental ailment as well as a physical condition. Incorporating stress-relieving methods along with arthritis aids such as arthritis gloves into her daily life has decreased the fluctuations in her joint pain while simultaneously leading her to live a healthier life. Wearing compression sleeves for your arthritis pain can be a great assistant to managing the pain. The compression aids in swelling relief and adds much needed support to the surrounding area. The use of compression apparel to manage the pain also helps lower your stress by giving you the peace of mind to carry on with your daily activities. Although researchers have reached a general consensus on the existence of a stress-pain link, the strength of the link is still in question. As stress and pain levels are immeasurable, it is difficult to quantify the link between stress and pain. Research indicates that how the subject perceives negative events and responds to stress plays a large role in the level of reported pain increase. For example, one may consider a particular situation as a source of stress, while another may view it as trivial. This is the human element which science struggles to properly explain. While it doesn’t take an academic research article to show that the battle against arthritis pain is a mental as well as a physical game, it is refreshing knowing there is an accepted link between one’s mental state and physical pain. Those living with arthritis must be especially aware of this relationship. During a patients job search, she found herself teetering on the edge of a perpetual down spiral of external stress increasing my arthritis pain and increased arthritis pain causing her more stress.
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