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Workplace

Working successfully depends greatly on having proper medical management of your disease. This includes care from an experienced doctor and working with your health care team to plan a treatment program of proper medication and exercise prescribed by a physical or occupational therapist.

Being flexible and creative can help you balance work responsibilities with the demands of arthritis. By figuring out your energy patterns during the day and what kind of activities hurt or help you, you can arrange your work schedule to keep arthritis under control.
Some ways to do this include:

• Maintaining a positive attitude.
• Maintaining a schedule. Go to bed at a regular time and get enough rest to carry you through the next day.
• Creating an efficient work environment. Arrange your area to limit the amount of lifting, reaching, carrying, holding or walking necessary.
• Varying activities periodically to avoid sitting in one position or doing too much repetitive activity for too long.
• Setting priorities and pacing yourself. List tasks you must do in order of importance and do the most important ones while you feel strongest and most energetic.

Working Safely

Finding ways to eliminate or cut down on activities that hurt your joints can prevent disability and help you remain active in the workforce longer. Ways of doing this include:

• Practicing joint protection.
• Learning exercise and relation techniques.
• Conserving your energy.
• Making travel to and from work easier.