There are three major types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gout. Each have different characteristics, but all can cause varying degrees of pain, swelling, warmth and stiffness. Following are guidelines on understanding and finding the best treatments for your particular arthritis type.
Osteoarthritis (OA) – is one of the most common diseases in the country. Millions of adults and half of all people age 65 and older are troubled by OA. This type of arthritis starts when bone cartilage begins to become ragged and wears away. You are most likely to have OA in your hands, neck, lower back, or large weight-bearing bones of your body, such as knees and hips.
Growing old is what most often puts people at risk for OA. Being overweight, injuries or overuse can lead to risk of OA in hands, knees or hips.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) – can occur at any age, and is particularly prevalent in women. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning that your body attacks the lining of a joint, as if it were trying to protect your joints from injury. Generally, people with RA do not feel well and may have a fever, in addition to the pain, swelling, and stiffness. The major characteristic of RA is that, as an autoimmune condition, it can also attack organs such as the heart, muscles, blood vessels, nervous system, and eyes.
Gout – is one of the most painful forms of arthritis. It usually lasts for just a few days, but can reoccur. It begins when crystals of uric acid form in the connective tissue and/or joint spaces. The deposits lead to swelling, redness, pain and stiffness. Gout often follows certain rich dietary habits. Also, using alcohol or being overweight puts one at risk. Gout is felt mostly in the big toe, but can affect other areas.
WARNING SIGNS
Arthritis has certain warning signs, such as lasting joint pain, joint swelling, and / or stiffness; tenderness or pain in a joint; problems in joint movement, and / or warmth or redness of a joint. You need to see your doctor if you have any of these signs longer than two weeks. However, if you also feel ill and have a fever in conjunction with these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible.
TREATMENTS
There are some arthritis treatments that span all types of the disease. These relate to those medicines that manage pain, such as Acetaminophen or Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory agents, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxan. These latter agents may or may be sold over the counter, depending upon dosage. However, there are possibly dangerous side effects of these drugs that must be discussed with your doctor before beginning use. The FDA warns of these effects on the packaging, and you can contact the FDA for more information.
Other treatments relate to the particular type of arthritis. For Osteoarthritis in a joint, a doctor might give shots to help increase movement and reduce pain. For Rheumatoid Arthritis, there are certain antirheumatic drugs, called DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) that can slow damage from the disease. Gout is treated with NSAIDs or corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to reduce swelling.
An important arthritis therapy includes many different types of exercise, including: range-of-motion, strengthening exercises, and aerobic or endurance exercises. These are key to relieving stiffness, lessening pain, and strengthening the muscles around the joints.
Contact the National Institute on Aging (NIA) at 800-222-2225 to order a booklet on how to start and stick with an exercise program, or visit them at www.nia.nih.gov. The NIA also has other publications in both English and Spanish.
There are other things you can do to help relieve arthritis pain. Maintaining a proper weight, applying heat and cold, soaking in a warm bath, or swimming in a heated pool are just some options. For severe injury to joints that lead to major pain and disability, your doctor may recommend surgery.
Unproven Remedies
Beware of unproven remedies for arthritis. Some may not only be worthless, but can be very harmful. The use of snake venom falls into this category. Lotions and creams are not proven, and the consumer may not even be made aware of side effects.
Treatments Requiring More Research
The following treatment options may offer some hope. These include Chinese acupuncture, and the dietary supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. Research is showing that these substances may help lesson OA pain.
Talk to Your Doctor
Most importantly, discuss your condition with your doctor. You and your doctor should work together to safely lessen pain and stiffness and hopefully avoid further damage to your joints.
For more information about arthritis, you can contact the following organizations:
National Society for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
888-644-6226
888-464-1615 (TTY)
www.nccam.nih.gov
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment