Finding Information, Support and Therapy
People who take an interest in their disease management, and a proactive approach to their treatment, fare better than those who don’t. In fact, there’s a good deal of evidence that the more you learn about your OA, the less joint pain you will experience, the fewer doctor visits you will require, and the more you will enjoy your daily life.
The next step is applying your knowledge and drawing from the resources around you to improve your arthritis management – learn where to find the most helpful tools, support, and rehabilitation for a healthier, more comfortable life with OA.
Online Resources
There’s plenty of information online, but most people don’t have the time or patience to comb through dozens of websites to find relevant and reputable information. Here are a few clear, comprehensive, and up-to-date resources to get you started:
The Arthritis Foundation
A great place to start learning more about OA, with a focus on living – and thriving – with the condition. You’ll find lots of optimistic, proactive articles on how others are handling their arthritis, plus tools to help you manage your own. Take a look at the advocacy section and how to get involved in a conference, charity walk, or other opportunity to meet likeminded people and help spread awareness.
OAHealthInfo.com
A wonderfully thorough collection of helpful links to drug companies, fact sheets, journal articles and treatment articles. It’s easy to navigate, and well-organized – you won’t need to scroll through endless pages of info to get what you need.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Here you’ll find everything from basic arthritis info to podcasts and up-to-date publications, all laid out in a clear homepage. Click through the Arthritis Spotlights section for useful reports, statistics, and tips to help you understand your arthritis better and in turn, treat your symptoms better.
