Arthritis

Arthritis is a general term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In some types other organs are also affected.

There are more than 100 forms of arthritis.
Among the most common forms are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) and rheumatoid arthritis.
Osteoarthritis usually occurs with age and affects the knees, hips, and fingers.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that often affects the feet and hands.
Other types include gout, lupus, fibromyalgia, and septic arthritis. They are all types of rheumatic disease.

Arthritis Treatment

Treatment may include resting the joint and alternating between applying ice and heat. In some a joint replacement may be useful.
Weight reduction and exercise may also help. Pain medications (for example ibuprofen and paracetamol) may release the pain in some cases. But there may be long-lasting side effects.

Statistics: People suffering from Arthritis

Osteoarthritis affects more than 3.8% of people while rheumatoid arthritis affects about 0.24% of people. Gout affects about 1 to 2% of the Western population at some point in their lives. The term is from Greek arthro- meaning joint and -itis meaning inflammation.

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Symptoms and Signs of Arthritis

All types of arthritis are causing pain which can vary in severity. Other symptoms include joint stiffness, swelling and aching around the affected joint. Arthritic disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can affect other organs in the body, leading to a variety of symptoms, such as:

• Inable to use the hand or even to walk
• Difficulty moving the joint
• Syndrome fatigue and malaise
• Stiffness, particular after use, or in the morning
• Poor sleeping
• Weight-loss
• Tenderness
• Muscle pains and aches

In advanced arthritis commonly significant secondary changes may occur.

Arthritic symptoms might make it difficult for a person to move around or exercise, which can lead to secondary effects, such as:

• Flexibility gets lost
• Muscles get weak
• Physical fitness decreases

These changes, together with the primary symptoms, can have a huge influence on lifestyle.

Are you suffering from Arthritis?

If you are suffering from arthritis, you are not alone!

Can you imagine that arthritis is the most common cause of disability in the USA? Yes it is!
More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function on a daily basis. Absenteeism and frequent visits to the physician are common in individuals who have arthritis. This disease can make it very difficult for individuals to be physically active and some become home bound.

The total cost of arthritis cases is estimated to close $100 billion. Almost 50% comes from lost earnings.

Each year, arthritis results in nearly 1 million hospitalizations and close to 45 million outpatient visits to health care.
Decreased mobility, in combination with the symptoms written above, can make it difficult for an individual to remain physically active, contributing to an increased risk of obesity, high cholesterol or vulnerability to heart disease. People with arthritis are also at increased risk of depression, which may be a response to numerous factors, including fear of worsening symptoms.

More than 20 million individuals with arthritis have severe limitations in function on a daily basis. Arthritis can make it very difficult for individuals to be physically active and some become home bound.

Each year, arthritis results in nearly 1 million hospitalizations and close to 45 million outpatient visits to health care.

Today a very successful alternative treatment of arthritic pain is seen in the application of TENS devices.

How to relieve from Arthritic Pain

Medications

There are several types of medications that are used for the treatment of arthritis. Treatment typically begins with medications that have the fewest side effects with further medications being added if insufficiently effective.

Depending on the type of arthritis, the medications that are given may be different. The first-line treatment for osteoarthritis is acetaminophen (paracetamol) while for inflammatory arthritis it involves non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is autoimmune so aside from using pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs, this type uses another category of drug called disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS). An example of this type of drug is Methotrexate. These types of drugs act upon the body immune system and slow down the progression of RA.

Surgery

A number of rheumasurgical interventions have been incorporated in the treatment of arthritis since the 1950s. Arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis of the knee provides no additional benefit to optimized medical and physical therapy.

Alternative medicine to remedy Arthritis

A Cochrane review in 2000 concluded that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for knee osteoarthritis was more effective in pain control than placebo. Low level laser therapy may be considered for relief of pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Evidence of benefit is tentative.

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