Arthritis Self-Management Program

I completed my first Arthritis Self Management Program (ASMP) on March 23rd, 2006. The program was hosted in Ajax at the Kinsman Club by Beth Jacobs and Joan Lambert. Although both suffer from different debilitating forms of arthritis that have significantly altered their lives, they continue to find the time and energy to volunteer with the Arthritis Society, providing education and support to enable us to be proactive managers of our disease.
The program ran for six weeks in two-hour sessions and covered information on nutrition, exercise, problem solving, developing action plans, the pain cycle, and getting the most out of time-limited physician visits, coping mechanisms for dealing with various symptoms (such as fatigue, depression, etc), non-traditional treatments, and medication managment.
For the cost of only $35 (tax deductible), I received an open forum to communicate with others in similar situtations, the ability to network with others suffering with arthritis, education and support from knowledgeable volunteers, printed resources about my disease and how to better utilize the Arthritis Society, and a research-based text on arthritis management.

If you have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, there are steps that you can take at home to help reduce pain and stiffness and allow you to continue daily activities. These steps include:

• Educating yourself, such as through The Arthritis Self-Management Program. Learn all you can about your condition and know what complications to watch for. This will help you control your symptoms and stay more active.
• Reducing pain by taking pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or using heat to decrease your pain and stiffness. Warm showers or baths or sleeping under a warm electric blanket may reduce stiffness.
• Exercising and stretching regularly. This reduces pain and stiffness and helps maintain fitness and mobility of the spine, chest, and joints. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to get you started on an exercise program.
• Swimming as part of your exercise program helps to maintain chest expansion and movement of the spine without jarring the spine. Breast stroke is especially good for chest expansion.
• You should avoid contact sports, since joint fusion may make your spine more likely to fracture as the disease progresses, but your doctor may approve of other activities such as golf and tennis. Check with your doctor before you add any new activity.
• Maintaining proper posture and chest expansion. Good posture is important because it can help prevent abnormal bending of the spine. Maintaining chest expansion will help prevent problems such as lung infection (pneumonia). Deep breathing exercises can improve or maintain lung capacity. It's a good idea to lie on your stomach a few times each day to keep your spine and hips extended. For sleeping, choose a firm mattress and a small pillow that supports your neck.
• Using assistive devices such as canes or walkers. Your local chapter of the Arthritis Society, your physical therapist, or a medical supply company may be able to help you find assistive devices in your area. If your neck is becoming stiff, your doctor may recommend that you wear a soft neck brace when you ride in the car, to prevent injury in case of an accident.
• Avoiding smoking, to prevent serious breathing difficulties and lung scarring. Lung damage from smoking, combined with decreased chest expansion and the lung infections that sometimes go with ankylosing spondylitis, can seriously limit your ability to breathe freely.
• Seeing your doctor and/or rheumatologist at least once each year to check on your condition and watch for any complications. Catching complications early and treating them can prevent further problems.
• Having regular eye exams by an ophthalmologist to check for inflammation of the colored part of the eye (iritis).
• Joining a support group. For more information in Canada, call The Arthritis Society's Information Line at 1-800-321-1433, or visit their Web site at http://www.arthritis.ca