The main symptoms of arthritis are swelling, stiffness and pain. They are all signs of inflammation of the joints. Other signs are redness of the skin of the joints and the fact that the affected joints feel warmer than the rest of the body. The most common types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Both these illnesses show the arthritis symptoms as described above and affect and inflame the joints. People who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis will also have to endure fatigue, lack of appetite and being feverish. Rheumatoid arthritis is also well known for attacking other parts of the body other than joints: skin, lungs and heart may be affected
The two types of arthritis have a different cause, they both attack primarily the joints, but whereas osteoarthrits is caused by the simple fact of wear of the joints through the years (as in older people or in professional athletes), rheumatoid arthritis finds its cause in the body itself. The body’s own immune system goes haywire and attacks its own joints and the tissues surrounding them. Since sometimes the immune system does not stop at the joints alone, rheumatic arthritis can have its detrimental effects on other parts of the body as well.
Treatment Of Arthritis Symptoms
Although we have to live with the fact that there is no cure for arthritis, understanding the reason why these symptoms occur is a major step. Understanding the symptoms means you can tackle them at the root of the problem . This is particularly important in the case of rheumatoid arthritis since a big part of the treatment will focus on reducing the harm, caused by the illness.
In most cases treatment will concentrate on pain management of the arthritis symptoms. This will involve medication for pain management. According to the severity of the pain this medication could be over-the-counter anti-inflammatory products containing ibuprofen ( Advil) or naproxen ( Aleve) or even stronger medication that will have to be prescribed by your doctor.
When you manage to control the pain associated with your arthritis symptoms, it is time to start working on reducing these symptoms. An exercise program is the best way to go about that. Try to create some sort of exercise routine that works on your range of motions as well as on strength and stamina. But first ask your doctor if and what exercises are best for your condition. After that it might even be a good idea to get in touch with a personal trainer, experienced in arthritis patients.
Arthritis symptoms are painful and seem sometimes even unmanageable. It is up to the arthritis sufferers to keep their spirits up and find those treatment options that will reduce the inevitable pain moments associated with arthritis and thus regain their level of activity and quality of life.
Archive for the ‘arthritis’ Category
Arthritis Symptoms: There Are Ways To Understand Them
Sunday, March 14th, 2010Arthritis Symptom Presentation Varies With Disease Type
Saturday, March 13th, 2010Many people think of arthritis as a disease of the elderly. Creaking bones, slow gaits and gnarled fingers are what come to mind when a list of arthritis symptom possibilities is presented. The fact is the disease is actually known for a multitude of symptoms and these may vary depending on the type of arthritis present.
There are two major forms of arthritis and many other less prevalent forms, as well. The two most common types of arthritis are osteo and rheumatoid. Each tends to present with its own brand of arthritis symptom possibilities along with several they share in common. Let’s look at both types and the typical symptoms that go along with them.
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease that tends to strike later in life. In this particular form of the disease, the arthritis symptom possibilities can range quite dramatically from patient to patient, but one thing that is shared in all cases is pain, or at least discomfort. This form of arthritis doesn’t have a definitive known cause, but it is believed it can be brought on by genetic defects, overuse, age, diabetes and a host of other possible reasons. This particular form of arthritis tends to impact the joint cartilage that lines the bone within the joint.
The arthritis symptom possibilities for this type of the disease include such things as inflammation, pain, loss of movement, bony growths and more. In severe cases, the cartilage can break down almost entirely, removing the body’s natural shock absorption system and creating a great deal of pain.
While the arthritis symptom possibilities will vary in this form from person to person, the impact of the disease is generally pretty strong. This form of arthritis affects about 20 million people in the United States alone.
The second major form of arthritis is rheumatoid. This, too, has no definitive cause, but is believed to be brought on by such things as heredity, hormones and even infection. The arthritis symptom possibilities in this form of the disease tend to be a little more broad, which makes it quite difficult to diagnosis initially.
In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s own immune system decides to attack and destroy the tissues in the joints. The arthritis symptom possibilities here are so wide because this form of the disease involves the immune system.
The typical arthritis symptom possibilities in rheumatoid include such things as swollen, stiff and painful joints, fevers, loss of use and even deformity in severe cases. Rheumatoid can also create arthritis symptom event in other areas of the body including the lungs, heart and eyes. Considering its more holistic attack on the body, this particular form of the disease is also known for making people feel very tired and generally ill overall.
Dealing with either form of the disease can be very difficult for patients to contend with. Generally doctors will attempt to address each arthritis symptom as it arises, which is considered a pretty good approach. Since neither form of the disease has a known cure, this is perhaps the best way to manage overall pain by handling treatment on a need-to basis. The best way for a person with different arthritis symptom possibilities to handle them is as they arise, while making sure a doctor is consulted for new therapies when they are needed.
Finding The Perfect Arthritis Pain Relief Treatment For You
Saturday, March 13th, 2010I found relief from my arthritis pain, naturally, and you can do it too. A few years ago I accidentally discovered how to rid one’s self of arthritis pain, naturally. Arthritis pain can be experienced whenever a stiff or swollen joint is used.
As a result of arthritis, the bone beneath the cartilage undergoes changes that lead to bony overgrowth and the tissue that lines the joint can become inflamed, the ligaments can loosen, and the associated muscles can weaken.
Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the joint cartilage and bone, often thought to result from “wear and tear” on a joint, although there are other causes of arthritis such as congenital defects, trauma and metabolic disorders.
The cartilage is slippery tissue that coats the ends of the bones. The combination of the collagen meshwork and high water content tightly bound by proteoglycans, creates a resilient, slippery pad in the joint, which resists the compression between bones during muscle movement. Cartilage contains chondrocytes, water, proteoglycans and collagen; chondrocytes are the basic cartilage cells and are necessary for balance and function.
Aging cells may be a factor in the development of arthritis. An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it’s known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases. One possible cause of arthritis is the inflammatory response due to the over-reaction of the immune system to an injury or other assault in the body, like an infection.
Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Make smoothies with fruit only using a base of two bananas, adding a cup of frozen or fresh blueberries and mango chunks or substitute any other fruit and add an energy boost of two tablespoons of coconut oil; add one or two leaves of kale for another highly nutritional boost — no one will ever know.
Supplements that help any disease or ailment include vitamin B12 — the methylcobalamin type not cyanocobalamin, and has to be sub-lingual — dissolves slowly under the tongue; and vitamin D3 especially if you can’t get a daily dose of 15-20 minutes of sun on your arms and legs so you can make your own vitamin D3.
Some foods and beverages to avoid that are inflammatory are: caffeine, salt, sugar, meat, dairy products, additives, soft drinks, white flour, white rice, alcoholic beverages, fast food, processed vegetable oils, refined, packaged and processed food.
Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it’s non-invasive to the body. Gluten may be a culprit in arthritic diseases including fibromyalgia; avoid wheat, barley, rye, spelt, triticale, kamut and oats (although not a gluten grain it gets contaminated at the wheat mills).
Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement. With natural treatments there will be fewer, if any, side effects or adverse reactions.
Not a food, but many, including one well-known professional golfer, still wear copper bracelets and swear by them. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods.
There are a number of exercises which can benefit arthritis sufferers regardless of how much restriction of movement there is. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health. Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner. Whatever you do, keep moving; don’t sit when you can stand, don’t stand when you can walk.
To be on the safe side always seek your doctor’s advice before starting or changing your exercise program. If weight is an issue, try to use exercises that will help you in losing weight such as walking. Keep a bedside basket of arthritic aids for arthritic hands (Theraputty, hand grips, Taiji chime balls, etc.) to be used at bedtime or while watching television.
Let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other drugs, herbs or other supplements you’re taking, to ward off any adverse drug reactions that might occur from the combining of different drugs or supplements. Once you become more informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both. For conventional treatment of arthritis – if you do choose to take drugs or medications, be very careful and read the labels thoroughly.
Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. Begin your treatment program with a diet change, exercise and weight loss plan to see results and pain relief fast. I got rid of my arthritis pain years ago when I stopped eating dead food and changed to a diet of all living foods; you can do it too.
Arthritis Pain Relief – You Can Get Rid Of Your Arthritis Pain Naturally
Friday, March 12th, 2010A few years ago I accidentally discovered how to rid myself of arthritis pain, naturally. I got rid of my arthritis and arthritis pain forever by changing my diet. Unlike some other types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis is not systemic; it does not spread through the entire body.
Arthritis concentrates in one or several joints where deterioration occurs. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis.
The synovium is a membrane that surrounds the whole joint; it’s filled with synovial fluid, a lubricating liquid that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the cartilage. Cartilage contains a high percentage of water, but it decreases with age. Joints are designed for normal and painless movement and are primarily supplied by the synovium and cartilage.
As chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) age, they lose their ability to make repairs and produce more cartilage; this process may play an important role in the development and progression of osteoarthritis. Injuries sometimes can be the start in the arthritic disease process; osteoarthritis can develop years later even after a single traumatic injury to a joint or near a joint.
An inflammatory response causes cytokines, to gather in injured areas and cause inflammation and damage to body tissue and cells; it’s known to play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and other muscle and joint problems associated with autoimmune diseases.
If you really want to get rid of your arthritis pain forever it may take a radical change in your diet and an ongoing commitment. One natural treatment method involves avoiding all inflammatory foods. Try massaging your fingers or other affected joints with coconut oil twice a day.
Keep in mind, if you take a joint supplement it should help do three things — build cartilage, relieve everyday joint pain, and enhance your flexibility and movement. Many have told me that going off dairy products and gluten containing foods relieved their arthritis pain entirely. Some people swear by glucosamine and/or chondroitin and others say it didn’t help at all.
An acidic diet, that is any foods not alive, is considered to be inflammatory to the joints. For snacks, choose raw nuts without salt instead of lifeless roasted nuts. Natural treatment for arthritis is usually a better choice because it’s non-invasive to the body. Many arthritis sufferers have changed their diets and noticed significant or total improvement.
To be on the safe side always seek your doctor’s advice before starting or changing your exercise program. Exercise in a heated pool; it will help reduce the pressure on your joints and the heat will help you loosen those joints. Your body has 147 joints in motion every day. Even the lightest exercise can go a long way to maintaining your joint mobility and overall health.
If you have pain and swelling in your fingers, try squeezing Thera-putty made for this purpose or exercising with two Chinese chime balls. Fight arthritis through proper exercise! Try to keep painful joint areas in motion, even in a limited manner.
If you’re going to go the conventional treatment route and take medications, ask your pharmacist for drug inserts so you can read up on the drugs and understand any side effects or adverse reactions, before taking them. Be aware that the use of NSAIDs or Cox-2 inhibitors do not halt the progress of osteoarthritis and may even hasten the onset. Once you become more informed about arthritis you’ll be able to plan an arthritis treatment program, natural or conventional or a combination of both.
Changing your diet to predominately fruits and raw veggies, like I did, can turn your arthritis pain around almost overnight. More and more doctors are investigating the benefits of alternative therapies and most don’t object to patients trying them. One should not only search for relief of arthritis pain but work on preventing it.