What is arthritis?
The US National Library of Medicine1 says that if you have trouble moving around or feel pain and stiffness in your body, you could have arthritis. In the majority of cases arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. The word arthritis comes from the Greek arthron meaning "joint" and in Latin itis meaning "inflammation". The plural of arthritis is arthritides.
Eventually a swollen joint can suffer severe damage. In some cases, arthritis can cause problems in the patient's eye, skin or other organs. Arthritis is not a single disease - it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly patients. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age.
Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries. This Medical News Today articles includes details on thedefinition of arthritis, its causes, the four main types of the disease, its signs and symptoms, how arthritis affects people, the benefits of physical and occupational therapy, currently available medications, and the impact of diet and exercise.
The US National Library of Medicine1 says that if you have trouble moving around or feel pain and stiffness in your body, you could have arthritis. In the majority of cases arthritis causes pain and swelling in the joints. The word arthritis comes from the Greek arthron meaning "joint" and in Latin itis meaning "inflammation". The plural of arthritis is arthritides.
Eventually a swollen joint can suffer severe damage. In some cases, arthritis can cause problems in the patient's eye, skin or other organs. Arthritis is not a single disease - it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and generally affects elderly patients. Some forms of arthritis can affect people at a very early age.
Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints. It is the main cause of disability among people over fifty-five years of age in industrialized countries. This Medical News Today articles includes details on thedefinition of arthritis, its causes, the four main types of the disease, its signs and symptoms, how arthritis affects people, the benefits of physical and occupational therapy, currently available medications, and the impact of diet and exercise.
- Arthritis affects the musculoskeletal system, specifically the joints.
- About 1 in every 5 American adults, i.e. 50 million people, have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
- Arthritis is not a single disease - it is a term that covers over 100 medical conditions. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis.
- Most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of several factors working together including genetic makeup, a physically demanding job, previous injury, infection or allergies, certain foods,obesity, autoimmune disease.
- The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
- Physical therapy and occupational therapy can help maintain joint mobility and range of motion.
- Physical therapy, apart from significantly improving function and reducing pain, has been shown to delay the need for surgical intervention in advanced cases.
- Occupational therapy can teach you how to reduce the strain on your joints as you go about your daily activities.
- Doctors warn that inactivity could harm the health of most patients with arthritis or some kind of rheumatic disease. Inactivity raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes type 2.
What causes Arthritis?
In order to better understand what is going on when a person suffers from some form of arthritis, let us look at how a joint works. Basically, a joint is where one bone moves on another bone. Ligaments hold the two bones together. The ligaments are like elastic bands, while they keep the bones in place your muscles relax or contract to make the joint move.
Cartilage covers the bone surface to stop the two bones from rubbing directly against each other. The covering of cartilage allows the joint to work smoothly and painlessly. A capsule surrounds the joint. The space within the joint - the joint cavity - has synovial fluid. Synovial fluid nourishes the joint and the cartilage. The synovial fluid is produced by the synovium (synovial membrane) which lines the joint cavity.
If you have arthritis something goes wrong with the joint(s). What goes wrong depends on what type of arthritis you have. It could be that the cartilage is wearing away, a lack of fluid, autoimmunity (your body attacking itself), infection, or a combination of many factors.
Arthritis Research UK says that most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of several factors working together. The following factors may contribute towards a higher arthritis risk:
Types of Arthritis:
There are over 100 types of arthritis. Here is a description of some common ones, together with the causes:
Osteoarthritis: With osteoarthritis, the cartilage loses its elasticity. If the cartilage is stiff it becomes damaged more easily. The cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber, will gradually wear away in some areas. As the cartilage becomes damaged tendons and ligaments become stretched, causing pain. Eventually the bones may rub against each other causing very severe pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an inflammatory form of arthritis. The synovial membrane (synovium) is attacked, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated the arthritis can lead to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is significantly more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60. However, children and much older people may also be affected. During the first ten years after diagnosis, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of blood clots.
Infectious arthritis: (septic arthritic) Infectious arthritis is an infection in the synovial fluid and tissues of a joint. It is usually caused by bacteria, but could also be caused by fungi or viruses. Bacteria, fungi or viruses may spread through the bloodstream from infected tissue nearby, and infect a joint. Most susceptible people are those who already have some form of arthritis and develop an infection that travels in the bloodstream.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA): Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects a person aged 16 or less. JRA can be various forms of arthritis; it basically means that a child has it. There are three main types:
In order to better understand what is going on when a person suffers from some form of arthritis, let us look at how a joint works. Basically, a joint is where one bone moves on another bone. Ligaments hold the two bones together. The ligaments are like elastic bands, while they keep the bones in place your muscles relax or contract to make the joint move.
Cartilage covers the bone surface to stop the two bones from rubbing directly against each other. The covering of cartilage allows the joint to work smoothly and painlessly. A capsule surrounds the joint. The space within the joint - the joint cavity - has synovial fluid. Synovial fluid nourishes the joint and the cartilage. The synovial fluid is produced by the synovium (synovial membrane) which lines the joint cavity.
If you have arthritis something goes wrong with the joint(s). What goes wrong depends on what type of arthritis you have. It could be that the cartilage is wearing away, a lack of fluid, autoimmunity (your body attacking itself), infection, or a combination of many factors.
Arthritis Research UK says that most types of arthritis are caused by a combination of several factors working together. The following factors may contribute towards a higher arthritis risk:
- Your genetic makeup
- A physically demanding job, especially one with repetitive movements
- A previous injury
- Some infections or allergic reactions may cause short-term arthritis. When it is caused by an infection it is known as "reactive arthritis"
- For a number of people certain foods can either bring on arthritis symptoms, or make existing ones worse
- Obesity, which places extra strain on joints
- Arthritis may also be caused by autoimmune disease.
Types of Arthritis:
There are over 100 types of arthritis. Here is a description of some common ones, together with the causes:
Osteoarthritis: With osteoarthritis, the cartilage loses its elasticity. If the cartilage is stiff it becomes damaged more easily. The cartilage, which acts as a shock absorber, will gradually wear away in some areas. As the cartilage becomes damaged tendons and ligaments become stretched, causing pain. Eventually the bones may rub against each other causing very severe pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis: This is an inflammatory form of arthritis. The synovial membrane (synovium) is attacked, resulting in swelling and pain. If left untreated the arthritis can lead to deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis is significantly more common in women than men and generally strikes when the patient is aged between 40 and 60. However, children and much older people may also be affected. During the first ten years after diagnosis, patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of blood clots.
Infectious arthritis: (septic arthritic) Infectious arthritis is an infection in the synovial fluid and tissues of a joint. It is usually caused by bacteria, but could also be caused by fungi or viruses. Bacteria, fungi or viruses may spread through the bloodstream from infected tissue nearby, and infect a joint. Most susceptible people are those who already have some form of arthritis and develop an infection that travels in the bloodstream.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA): Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects a person aged 16 or less. JRA can be various forms of arthritis; it basically means that a child has it. There are three main types:
- Pauciarticular JRA, the most common and mildest. The child experiences pain in up to 4 joints.
- Polyarticular JRA affects more joints and is more severe. As time goes by it tends to get worse.
- Systemic JRA is the least common. Pain is experienced in many joints. It can spread to organs. This can be the most serious JRA.
What are the signs and symptoms of arthritis?
The most commonly affected joints with osteoarthritis are in the hips, hands, knees and spine. The symptoms of arthritis depend on the type, for example:
Osteoarthritis: The symptoms of osteoarthritis develop slowly and get worse as time goes by. There is pain in a joint, either during or after use, or after a period of inactivity. There will be tenderness when pressure is applied to the joint. The joint will be stiff, especially first thing in the morning.
The patient may find it harder to use the joint - it loses its flexibility. Some patients experience a grating sensation when they use the joint. Hard lumps, or bone spurs may appear around the joint. In some cases the joint might swell. The most commonly affected joints are in the hips, hands, knees and spine.
Rheumatoid arthritis: The patient often finds the same joints in each side of the body are painfully swollen, inflamed, and stiff. The fingers, arms, legs and wrists are most commonly affected. Symptoms are usually worst on waking up in the morning and the stiffness can last for 30 minutes at this time. The joint is tender when touched. Hands may be red and puffy. There may be rheumatoid nodules (bumps of tissue under the skin of the patient's arms).
Many patients with rheumatoid arthritis feel tired most of the time. Weight loss is common. The smaller joints are usually noticeably affected first. Experts say patients with rheumatoid arthritis have problems with several joints at the same time. As the arthritis progresses it spreads from the smaller joints in your hands, wrists, ankles and feet to your elbows, knees, hips, neck, shoulders and jaw.
Infectious arthritis: The patient commonly has a fever, joint inflammation and swelling with infectious arthritis. They will feel tenderness and/or a sharp pain. Often these symptoms are linked to an injury or another illness. Most commonly affected areas are the knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist and finger. In the majority of cases just one joint is affected.
Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: The patient is a child and will experience intermittent fevers which tend to peak in the evening and then suddenly disappear. Appetite will be poor and weight may be lost. There may be blotchy rashes on arms and legs. Anemia is also common. The child may limp or have a sore wrist, finger, or knee. A joint may suddenly swell and stay larger than it usually is. The child may experience a stiff neck, hips or some other joint.
How will arthritis affect me?
Arthritis affects people in many different ways. How long the patient is affected and how severely it is depends on the type of arthritis. Arthritis sufferers will find there are good and bad days. Most patients with arthritis will suffer from discomfort, pain, stiffness and/or fatigue.
You may also feel frustrated that you are no longer able to grip things so well or get around like you used to. It is important to remember that if you suffer from arthritis this does not mean you have to give up having an active lifestyle. With some changes to your way of life there is no reason why you cannot continue being active.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy for arthritis:
Physical therapy and occupational therapy help maintain joint mobility and range of motion. How much therapy you need, and what kind of therapy will depend on many factors, such as the severity and type of arthritis you have, your age, and your general state of health. This has to be decided by you with your physician and physical or occupational therapist.
People with arthritis will often avoid moving the affected joint because of the pain. A physical therapist can help the patient work out the joint stiffness without damaging it. In order to perform your daily activity the physical therapist will help you achieve a good range of motion. This may involve building strength in the muscles that surround the affected joint - stronger muscles help stabilize a weakened joint. You will also be taught the best way to move from one position to another, as well as learning how to use such walking aids as crutches, a cane or a walker, if you need one.
Physical therapy, apart from significantly improving function and reducing pain, has been shown to delay the need for surgical intervention in advanced cases.
Occupational therapy can teach you how to reduce the strain on your joints as you go about your daily activities. The occupational therapist can help you modify your home and workplace so that your movements do not aggravate your arthritis. You may need a splint for your hands or wrists, as well as aids for dressing, housekeeping, work activities, driving and washing/bathing yourself.
An occupational and/or physical therapist can make an enormous difference to your quality of life if you suffer from arthritis. He/she will help you learn more about your arthritis, devise a dietary plan if you are overweight and over-stressing the joints as a result, help you make better decisions about what shoes to buy if that part of the body is affected.
You will learn how and when to rest - rest is crucial for treating inflammation and pain, especially when many joints are affected and you feel tired. Resting individual joints is very helpful too - custom splints can be made to rest and support affected joints.
Local pain can be relieved with ice packs or heating pads. Ultrasound and hot packs provide deep heat which relieves localized pain and relaxes muscle spasm around the affected joint. You may find that a warm bath/shower makes it easier for you to exercise afterwards.
Physical activity can improve arthritis symptoms - doctors warn that inactivity could harm the health of most patients with arthritis or some kind of rheumatic disease. Inactivity raises the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes type 2. Muscles become weaker with no exercise, joints become stiffer, and the patient's tolerance for pain decreases. Balance problems may also become worse.
Arthritis patients who are physically active generally enjoy better health, are happier, live longer, experience improvements in pain, sleep, day-to-day functioning and general energy levels.
Impact of diet, exercise and bodyweight on arthritis:
Experts say that eating a well-balanced diet is vital when you have arthritis. Not only will you be receiving critical nutrients, you will also be either maintaining or arriving more quickly at a healthy bodyweight. If you are overweight you will be adding extra pressure on weight-bearing joints. Many patients have found that losing just a few pounds made a significant difference to their quality of life.
Doctors and nutritionists are more frequently advising arthritis patients to keep sugary and/or fatty foods to a minimum - such as red meat, cream and cheese. You should make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been shown to relieve some extent the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis7. A common source of Omega-3 fatty acids is oily fish, such as sardines, herring, trout, and salmon.
Many of us tend to place large portions on our plate. If you reduce the size of the portions you may lose weight more effectively. Make sure that vegetables and fruit make up a large part of your portion.
Living with arthritis:
Although arthritis can make daily tasks more difficult and exhausting, there are many techniques and therapies, which added together, can give you a much better quality life, compared to no therapy at all.
It is important that people with arthritis seek medical health and treatment. Although there is no cure for arthritis, there is a lot you can do to minimize its overall effects on your everyday life.
You may wish or have to continue working, and with the right techniques and help from an occupational therapist you may find it is not as daunting as you first thought.
There is a lot you can do to minimize the impact your arthritis might have on family life and raising your children. A person with arthritis will need to remember that being there for the child is much more important than being a super active parent.
If you pace yourself and prioritize you will be surprised at how much you can achieve successfully. Be open with your family members about your arthritis - explain how it affects you so that they recognize when you may need extra understanding and support.
THINGS TO DO:
-Go for morning / evening walk for at least 30 minutes a day. Drink atleast 3 to 4 lts of water every day.
-Try to reduce the stress on your joints by reducing the weight of your body.
-Do only low-impact exercises such as aerobics, and swimming.
-Long / warm showers or baths especially in the morning and before going to sleep help ease stiffness in your joints.
-Use a moist heating pad at night to keep your joints loose.
-Acupunture can re-route your energies and restore balance in your body.
-Reduce your stress levels by following meditation and relaxation tecnhniques.
-Include Omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish oil suppliments to your diet.
-Use of turmeric reduces Joint pains. Make a tea with turmeric, ginger and honey.
-One cup of green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed in 'equal proportions with carrot, celery, and red beet juices is good for arthritis.
THINGS NOT TO DO:
-Do not Jogg. Walking is preferable to jogging.
-Weight bearing exercises can be damaging your joints.
-Stop eating unhealthy diet that packs on pounds.
- Quit smoking - Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which leads to more arthritis pain.
- Avoid high impact aerobics, and tennis, jogging and skipping.
- Avoid eating foods such as Potatoes, fatty foods and sweets that increase the body weight.
- Reduce the intake of Alcohol.
- Dont indulge in hard massages.
- Get plenty of rest but dont be a couch potato.
- Don´t let depression and negative attitude kick in. Arthritis is a condition that can be beaten with proper care.
-Go for morning / evening walk for at least 30 minutes a day. Drink atleast 3 to 4 lts of water every day.
-Try to reduce the stress on your joints by reducing the weight of your body.
-Do only low-impact exercises such as aerobics, and swimming.
-Long / warm showers or baths especially in the morning and before going to sleep help ease stiffness in your joints.
-Use a moist heating pad at night to keep your joints loose.
-Acupunture can re-route your energies and restore balance in your body.
-Reduce your stress levels by following meditation and relaxation tecnhniques.
-Include Omega 3 fatty acids, such as fish oil suppliments to your diet.
-Use of turmeric reduces Joint pains. Make a tea with turmeric, ginger and honey.
-One cup of green juice, extracted from any green leafy vegetable, mixed in 'equal proportions with carrot, celery, and red beet juices is good for arthritis.
THINGS NOT TO DO:
-Do not Jogg. Walking is preferable to jogging.
-Weight bearing exercises can be damaging your joints.
-Stop eating unhealthy diet that packs on pounds.
- Quit smoking - Smoking causes stress on connective tissues, which leads to more arthritis pain.
- Avoid high impact aerobics, and tennis, jogging and skipping.
- Avoid eating foods such as Potatoes, fatty foods and sweets that increase the body weight.
- Reduce the intake of Alcohol.
- Dont indulge in hard massages.
- Get plenty of rest but dont be a couch potato.
- Don´t let depression and negative attitude kick in. Arthritis is a condition that can be beaten with proper care.
9 ways to get relief from Arthritis pain
Arthritis is a painful and degenerative condition marked by inflammation in the joints that causes stiffness and pain. Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, gets worse with age and is caused by wear and tear over the years.
Doctors traditionally treat arthritis with anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers. However, some medications cause side effects, and a natural approach to pain relief is becoming more popular. |
our weight can make a big impact on the amount of pain you experience from arthritis. Extra weight puts more pressure on your joints—especially your knees, hips, and feet.
Reducing the stress on your joints by losing weight will improve your mobility, decrease pain, and prevent future damage to your joints. |
There are more benefits to exercise than just weight loss. Regular movement helps to maintain flexibility in your joints. Weight-bearing exercises like running and walking can be damaging. Instead, try low-impact exercises like water aerobics or swimming to flex your joints without adding further stress.
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Simple hot and cold treatments can make a world of difference when it comes to arthritis pain. Long, warm showers or baths—especially in the morning—help ease stiffness in your joints. Use an electric blanket or heating pad at night to keep your joints loose and use moist heating pads. Cold treatments are best for relieving joint pain. Wrap a gel ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to painful joints for quick relief.
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Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medical treatment that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on your body. This is supposed to re-route energies and restore balance in your body.
It is thought that acupuncture has the ability to reduce arthritis pain. If you want to try this treatment method, be sure to find an experienced acupuncturist with good references. |
Meditation and relaxation techniques may be able to help you reduce pain from arthritis by reducing stress and enabling you to cope with it better. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), studies have found that the practice of mindfulness meditation is helpful for some people with painful joints. Researchers also found that those with depression and arthritis benefitted the most from meditation.
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Everyone needs omega-3 fatty acids in their diets for optimum health. However, these fats may also help your arthritis. Fish oil supplements, which are high in omega-3s, may help reduce joint stiffness and pain.
Another fatty acid that can help is gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA. It’s found in the seeds of certain plants like evening primrose, borage, hemp, and black currants. You can also buy the oils of the seeds as a supplement. However, be sure to check with your doctor before taking them. |
Turmeric, the yellow spice common in Indian dishes, contains a chemical called curcumin that may be able to reduce arthritis pain. The secret is its anti-inflammatory properties.
The NIH reports that turmeric given to lab rats reduced inflammation in their joints. Research on humans is scarce, but it can’t hurt to add this tasty spice to your dinners. |
According to the Arthritis Foundation, regular massaging of arthritic joints can help reduce pain and stiffness, and improve your range of motion. Work with a physical therapist to learn self-massage, or schedule appointments with a massage therapist regularly.
Your massage therapist should be experienced with working on people who have arthritis. Check with your doctor for a recommendation. |
