Arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that manifests in hundreds of different ways. It may affect people of all ages, sex, gender, race, etc and is considered the leading cause of disability in America. It has affected more than 50 million of adults and appears in one form or the other in approximately 300,000 children. The diversity of signs leaves many people asking, doctor what is arthritis?
Painful joints are the first signs that you have osteoarthritis, a common type. Rheumatic arthritis does not localize the pain, leaving it to spread to the entire body. The pain results from degenerating cartilages separating bones at the joint. When these bones rub on each other without oil, they become very painful. In the absence of the cartilage, fluid accumulates between the joints, leaving you in a lot of pain.
Pain may appear anytime regardless of the age because the cartilage is worn out. The progression of cartilage degeneration will depend on how advanced the condition is, the presence of injuries and whether your condition is hereditary. The joints may also be painful and degenerate depending on your health status. The number of women who are affected is also higher than that of men. You will feel an itchy soreness and stiff joints as you perform ordinary tasks.
The early signs include an abnormal inability to move your joints. This may also be accompanied by a recurring and very painful joint. One or more joint may also begin to swell. The affected joint begins to feel warm and eventually swells. These signs will manifest with different degrees of severity.
Arthritic pain is best diagnosed by your physician who you should seen whenever you experience any of the symptoms above. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or rheumatologist to get a confirmatory test. The levels of inflammation around your joints and blood will be examined. There are antibodies that will also be tested to confirm the actual type of inflammation afflicting your joints or body.
Arthritic pain is only managed since cure is not yet available. Your doctor will recommend a number of measures depending on your condition. They include striking a balance between work and rest, sessions of hot and cold therapy, regular physical exercises, checking your weight and additional support to strengthen muscles around joints. There are assistive devices that you can use for your joints or take over-the-counter drugs for pain relief. Excessive repetitive movement should also be avoided.
Extreme cases can be handled through surgery. The joints are replaced using artificial ones, with the hips and knees being the main beneficiaries of these surgeries. Hip and knee replacement are part of the pain management surgeries targeting arthritic pain. Joint fusion is also an option targeting fingers and the wrist but will be recommended by the doctor. Fusion locks the joint such that adjacent bones become one.
Take necessary management steps to eliminate pain from your joints. Your lifestyle needs to change with some of the options including keeping a healthy weight, increasing intake of high oxidant foods and consumption of anti-inflammation foods like nuts and fish. Boost your intake of fresh fruits, wild herbs and vegetables as well. Arthritic pain can also be dealt with by avoiding dairy products, meat, processed foods and fried foods.
Painful joints are the first signs that you have osteoarthritis, a common type. Rheumatic arthritis does not localize the pain, leaving it to spread to the entire body. The pain results from degenerating cartilages separating bones at the joint. When these bones rub on each other without oil, they become very painful. In the absence of the cartilage, fluid accumulates between the joints, leaving you in a lot of pain.
Pain may appear anytime regardless of the age because the cartilage is worn out. The progression of cartilage degeneration will depend on how advanced the condition is, the presence of injuries and whether your condition is hereditary. The joints may also be painful and degenerate depending on your health status. The number of women who are affected is also higher than that of men. You will feel an itchy soreness and stiff joints as you perform ordinary tasks.
The early signs include an abnormal inability to move your joints. This may also be accompanied by a recurring and very painful joint. One or more joint may also begin to swell. The affected joint begins to feel warm and eventually swells. These signs will manifest with different degrees of severity.
Arthritic pain is best diagnosed by your physician who you should seen whenever you experience any of the symptoms above. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or rheumatologist to get a confirmatory test. The levels of inflammation around your joints and blood will be examined. There are antibodies that will also be tested to confirm the actual type of inflammation afflicting your joints or body.
Arthritic pain is only managed since cure is not yet available. Your doctor will recommend a number of measures depending on your condition. They include striking a balance between work and rest, sessions of hot and cold therapy, regular physical exercises, checking your weight and additional support to strengthen muscles around joints. There are assistive devices that you can use for your joints or take over-the-counter drugs for pain relief. Excessive repetitive movement should also be avoided.
Extreme cases can be handled through surgery. The joints are replaced using artificial ones, with the hips and knees being the main beneficiaries of these surgeries. Hip and knee replacement are part of the pain management surgeries targeting arthritic pain. Joint fusion is also an option targeting fingers and the wrist but will be recommended by the doctor. Fusion locks the joint such that adjacent bones become one.
Take necessary management steps to eliminate pain from your joints. Your lifestyle needs to change with some of the options including keeping a healthy weight, increasing intake of high oxidant foods and consumption of anti-inflammation foods like nuts and fish. Boost your intake of fresh fruits, wild herbs and vegetables as well. Arthritic pain can also be dealt with by avoiding dairy products, meat, processed foods and fried foods.
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