What your joints need

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects joints of a human body. The disease causes inflammation in and around joints, which result in decreased mobility.

As in all autoimmune diseases, the body tissues are mistakenly attacked by its own immune system. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause inflammation of tissues present in other organs in the body. That is the reason why this disease is sometimes referred as systematic illness. Rheumatoid arthritis cures, if any, are possible only by early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Causes

In rheumatoid arthritis, specific antibodies present in the blood begin to attack the healthy tissues of the body. The disease starts with pain and inflammation in joints. As it progresses, it starts affecting the muscles and other organs also. The disease normally attacks people who are between 40 to 60 years of age. Wrists and hands are some of the first joints to be attacked. This condition can be genetic, but there are other factors as well (like smoking) that lead to its onset.

Symptoms

The preliminary symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis include swelling of the joints. At first, the delicate lining (synovium) of the joints are inflamed. Gradually, the joints stiffen and turn red. You may also suffer from a low fever, loss of appetite, and/or fatigue. As the disease progresses, the synovium gradually becomes thickened. In advanced rheumatoid arthritis, antibodies attack the entire joint by breaking down bone, synovium and cartilage. Cartilage is the strong white flexible substance found between the joints in the body. There is greater inflammation in the entire joint area resulting in heaviness and pain. After some time it becomes very difficult to bend the joints.

Cures for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and medical history. The rheumatoid arthritis specialists (Rheumatologists) tailor a specific treatment based on your medical history. This may include anti-inflammatory drugs like analgesics etc to ease the pain or administration of cortisone shots to control swelling and stiffness. The specialist may also suggest you medications (like prednisone) to reduce the risk of joint deformity. If the disease is in its advanced stage, treatment measures may include extraction of fluid from the joints through arthrocentesis.

Some common rheumatoid arthritis treatments include sufficient rest, splinting of affected joints and mild exercise programs. Good nutrition is also very important because patients often experience anemia and weight loss.

True, that there are no known cures for rheumatoid arthritis, but an early diagnosis and treatment can substantially reduce joint inflammation and pain. Timely treatments can prevent joint destruction and deformity and prolong joint functionality and mobility. However, one should always remember that rheumatoid arthritis treatment can be much more successful if there is a close co-operation between the doctor, the patient and his or her family members.

Juvenile arthritis is usually difficult to diagnose due to the wide range of possible symptoms and severity of symptoms. JA may be suspected when a child presents with joint pain and swelling, fever and unexplained rashes. Juvenile arthritis is often difficult to diagnose and treat. It is one of the most common childhood disorders and affects both boys and girls. JA is not contagious.

If your child shows signs of juvenile arthritis, you likely will be referred to a pediatric rheumatologist. Juvenile arthritis can be sometimes very complicated. There are several types of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, classified based on the joints affected, symptoms and test results. Juvenile arthritis, also known as juvenile chronic arthritis, childhood arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, has five different subtypes, or classifications, depending on the symptoms found within the first six months of diagnosis. These classifications are pauciarticular, polyarticular, systemic onset, spondyloarthropathy and psoriatic juvenile arthritis.

Juvenile arthritis is not a single disease, but rather a variety of diseases with persistent symptoms of arthritis. Many children Juvenile Arthritis with do not complain of joint pain, although inflammation causes redness, swelling, warmth, and soreness in the joints. Juvenile arthritis is also known as Juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) It affects children sixteen years old or under. It can restrict a child’s participation in social activities. This depends on the pattern of arthritis present, its duration and the degree of damage that has occurred.

Parents can arrange for children to participate in activities that the doctor recommends. During symptom-free periods, many doctors suggest playing team sports or doing other activities to help keep the joints strong and flexible and to provide play time with other children and encourage appropriate social development. Parents completed ratings of their families’ and children’s behavior and an illness activity rating scale. Siblings in the JCA and comparison groups did not differ in perceptions of their relationships or in their family structure.

Children with juvenile arthritis (JA) have been shown to have reduced muscle and cardiovascular physiology and functional performance compared to normal children. The effects of a specifically prescribed exercise program, focusing on the musculature supporting the inflamed joint, have not been demonstrated. Children cannot do normal activities easily and must be treated aggressively. NSAIDS are given to these patients and sometimes a second line of treatment includes gold shots, sulfasalazine or methotrexate. Children who are very ill also can miss long periods of school, and joint damage can cause long-term joint problems. In addition, the medications used to treat juvenile arthritis can cause other problems, including stomach ulcers, weakened bones and liver damage.

Children who are untreated, or who are treated late in the course of disease have the worst outcome than those who are treated early. In the hands of a physician, who is expert in the management of children with arthritis, even children with severe forms of the disease can have an excellent outcome. Children with this type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are particularly susceptible to an eye inflammation called iridocyclitis. These children need to be evaluated often by an ophthalmologist, perhaps as often as every three months, because there may not be any symptoms and permanent eye damage can occur even if other symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are under control. Children with the systemic form of arthritis may also have a pink rash that appears on the thighs and lower body. Systemic juvenile arthritis can also affect the lymph system and internal organs, such as the heart and liver.

Arthritis covers a broad spectrum of disease. To many, the term arthritis means pain and inflammation of the joints – but, arthritis is a much more complex medical condition. The term arthritis comes from the Latin phrase, “arth” meaning joint and “it is” meaning inflammation. There are over 100 illnesses associated with the term arthritis. Arthritis can range from something as simple as tendonitis to something as chronic as rheumatoid arthritis.

Three Most Common Types of Arthritis

Osteoarthritis – the most common type of arthritis. This degenerative joint disease affects over 16 million Americans. This form of arthritis is caused when the cartilage surrounding the ends of the bones begins to degenerate and the joints are no longer cushioned. This caused the joints to rub together and in severe cases, you can hear the bones grating against one another. At the onset of osteoarthritis, the symptoms are usually mild and consist of pain and stiffness of the joints. As the disease progresses, inflammation and loss of motion can occur. In some severe cases, deformity can occur if the grinding joints wear one side of the joint more than the other.

Rheumatoid arthritis – This is the second most common type of arthritis and the most severe. Symptoms usually begin appearing between the ages of 25 and 50 – however, children and senior citizens can experience the onset of this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease because factors other than wear and tear of cartilage can cause the disease and the disease can affect other organs, such as the eyes, lungs, and heart.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually affects the joints on both sides of the body – for instance, both hands will be affected, both wrists will be affected, and both legs will be affected. The most common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are pain, stiffness, swelling, redness of the skin, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever. Not only affecting the joints, rheumatoid arthritis can give you an overall feeling of sickness. Rheumatoid arthritis can be a debilitating disease, however patients can experience periods of remission in which the symptoms disappear and they can lead a normal life.

Fibromyalgia – This is a type of arthritis that does not directly affect the joints. Rather, the inflammation and pain affect the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues under the skin. Many patients have tender spots under the skin that are painful when any type of pressure is applied. The symptoms for Fibromyalgia include deep muscle pain, fatigue, sleeplessness, and depression. Symptoms may come and go, but the disease is long term and chronic.

Other Types of Arthritis

Anklyosing Spondylitis – a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the spine. The common symptoms include lower back pain and stiffness that lasts for more than a period of three months, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, weight loss, and low-grade fever.

Gout – this disease usually affects the joints of the big toe, but can extend to the ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbow. The common symptoms are tenderness, pain, redness, warmth, and swelling of the affected joint.

Infectious Arthritis – this type of arthritis is caused by an infection, and can be caused by both bacterial and viral infections. The onset of infectious arthritis is sudden and the symptoms include swelling of the joint, soreness, warmth, leakage of tissue fluid, fever, and chills.

Cervical arthritis – this type of arthritis affects the upper back and can cause pain in the neck and arms. Cervical arthritis is caused when the cartilage protecting the discs that support the neck deteriorate. The most common symptom of cervical arthritis is chronic neck pain, but can include loss of balance, headaches, muscle weakness, and stiffness.

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis – this inflammatory arthritis affects children. The most common symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis are swelling, pain, and stiffness in joints. The symptoms are usually worse in children upon waking in the morning and after a nap. There is no known reason for the onset of arthritis in children and, unlike rheumatoid arthritis in adults, children sometimes outgrow the disease and the symptoms disappear.

These are just some of the many types of arthritis. In general terms, arthritis is any disease that involves inflammation – swelling and pain of the joints or muscles. If you suspect that you suffer from arthritis, you should consult your physician to determine the type of arthritis and learn what treatments are available.

Most of the medicines used to deal with rheumatic conditions are anti – inflammation and pain relievers, but there are cases in which they may also prevent the damage from getting worse. There is a very large number of available medicines. The appropriate one depends on the nature of the disease and the particularities of the patient. They don’t eradicate the disease but are able to control its symptoms. The exceptions are gout, infectious arthritis and Lyme disease, that may be cured completely by the eradication of the infection.

Medication may be delayed by the necessity to confirm the diagnosis, because it is possible for it to prevent some symptoms to appear during tests. It is necessary for the patients to follow the advice of their health care professionals and to be in close contact with him or her. The doctor must be informed of the possible side effects so that changes will be made to obtain the desired result.

To relief the pain generated by the swelling that is characteristic to arthritis, analgesics (like acetaminophen) and NSAIDs (ibuprofen) are required. The last category also determines the inflammation to back off, but it also develops side effects like stomach problems. The new forms of NSAIDs that use celecoxib are less irritating for the stomach, but they also present short term side effects. Regarding long term effects, the studies are still on progress. The doses will be different from one patient to another by taking into consideration the nature of his disease and his particular symptoms. The doctor must work closely to his patient in order to give him the appropriate analgesic or to change it if necessary.

In some cases DMARDs are necessary. These medications are used to prevent the damage from becoming critical or to slow it down. Some of these medicines are: sulfalazine, leflunomide and methotrexate.

Corticosteroids, especially prednisone, solumedrol, cortisone or hydrocortisone are very effective against the symptoms of certain rheumatic diseases. Their effect consists in the reducing of inflammation and the suppression of the immune system. The dosage depends on every patient’s particularities. They can be found as creams, pills or injections. They may have strong side effects on the stomach including on short term swelling, increased appetite, weight gain and emotional distress. They stop when treatment is stopped. It is dangerous to interrupt immediately so the doses should be gradually decreased. On long term, the side effects are: excessive hair growth, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, stretch marks, high blood sugar, arteries damage, infections and even cataract.

Biological response modifiers such as etanercept, infliximals and anakira are among the latest discoveries referable to arthritis medication. They decrease the inflammation and the damage of the articulations and block the activity of the tumor necrosis factor, a protein used by the immune system to respond to external factors.

Hyaluronic acid takes after a natural substance and lubricates the articulation of the knee. It is administered by injection. Such medications are Hyalgam and Synvisc.

With over a 100 different forms of arthritis, it can be difficult to determine which type a patients has. Pinpointing arthritis symptoms can help expedite the diagnoses of it.

Typical Arthritis Symptoms

The word arthritis means joint inflammation, and this is a result of having arthritis. Some forms of arthritis can actually affect body’s organs and can cause death.

Arthritis symptoms in the initial stages can be somewhat undefined. Vague pain and being tired may accompany joint pain that can come and go. Most of the specific pain surrounds the joints of the patient. These symptoms can be in the form of direct joint pain, redness and warmth around the joints, swelling and tenderness around the joint and the patient may experience limited range of motion in the joint.

Arthritis symptoms are important to keep track of in order to get definitive diagnoses. When a patient begins seeking medical advice in regards to their symptoms, the patients history will play an important part in being able to determine the form of arthritis that they have.

A doctor will also perform a physical evaluation of a patient that is experiencing arthritis symptoms. This can be in the form of looking at the patients joints, and determining if the rang of motion is compromised. The doctor may also be searching for warm or red joints, and will ask the patient numerous questions in order to get a clear physical picture of the patient. Arthritis symptoms may not be obvious to a patient, so the doctors questioning can lead to a proper diagnoses.

There are several major forms of arthritis. Discovering which arthritis symptoms go with these diseases can help in finding out which form of arthritis a patient has. Rheumatoid Arthritis has some classic arthritis symptoms, including severe morning stiffness, the small bones of the hands and feet may be swollen and painful and extreme fatigue are common arthritis symptoms in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Osteoarthritis often appears as a constant pain in a specific joint. This pain may be more evident after continued use of the joint. The pain is more common later in the day, and this form of arthritis can also occur with other arthritis conditions.

Psoriatic arthritis affects not only the joints but also the skin. The arthritis symptoms associated with this arthritis include, swollen joints and red, patchy and scaly skin. This form of arthritis has an impact on both joints and skin areas.

Anklosing spondylitis is another form of arthritis. The arthritis symptoms associated with this disease include, severe lower back pain that will progress up the spine and into the ribs. This form of arthritis is very painful and begins with chronic lower back pain.

As arthritis is a very common condition, learning some of the classic arthritis symptoms can assist a patient in getting the proper treatment.

There are a number of misconceptions about arthritis. There are several myths about this disease and people need to know the truth.  People need facts and valid information. One of the misconceptions is that this disease only affects old people. This is not true because it can affect anyone regardless of age. It can affect children, young adults as well as middle aged people.

There are over 100 types of this disease. Some rheumatic conditions are more commonly found in particular groups of people. Rheumatoid, fibromyalgia and lupus affect both men and women while gout and ankylosing spondylitis are more common in men than in women. Psoriatic seems to affect both men and women equally while osteoarthritis seems to affect older people.

Another myth about arthritis is that it is induced by cold or by wet climates. The fact here is that climate is neither a cause nor a cure. Warm climates are said to be soothing and may only help relieve some symptoms just like in a hot tub or taking a hot shower.

Another misconception about this disease is that it can be cured. To date, there is no known cure for this condition. What is available as treatment only helps to slow down the progression of the disease as well as relieve some of the symptoms. Another fallacy about this illness is that it is caused by a poor diet. The truth is that there is no scientific evidence that supports this suggestion. There are however certain foods that you are supposed to avoid when you have arthritis.

Arthritis is the condition in which the joints in the body get damaged and it eventually results in disability. It generally occurs in people who are aged sixty years or above. Arthritis can be classified into many different forms and each has different characteristics and cause. Most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis that will result in trauma in joints and also infection. A lot of studies have concluded that abnormal anatomy can be one cause for the development of arthritis.

Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and also autoimmune diseases. The body will start attacking itself in vase of a person suffering from autoimmune disease. Arthritis can be classified into hundred types and the symptoms of each can vary from the other.

In general there are certain signs that can help in identifying arthritis. The body will show certain signs that can help you identify whether it is arthritis or any other disease. It will help you to get medical help and treat the problem effectively.

Common signs and indications

A person suffering from any form of arthritis will have persistent pain in the joints. This is because all the problems of arthritis will be due to joint problems. A person should find out the region that causes pain as an arthritis patient will have pain in joints of hand, feet and also elbows. If a person is feeling tenderness in his joints then it may be due to arthritis.

A joint that is aggravated due to movement like walking, writing, or getting up will feel some tenderness in the joints. The joints will also start becoming warmer than the normal body temperature. This is created due to the tenderness in the joints. Inflammation of the joints can be a cause of arthritis.

Inflammation that is indicated by the swelling of the joints, redness, and warmth can signify the problem of arthritis. The part of the body with the joints will start swelling and this will limit or eliminate the mobility in the joints completely. A lot of people suffering from arthritis have deformity in the joints. This may lead to the ineffectiveness of that part like fingers and hands. The deformity may increase with the course of time.

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Arthritis patients lose flexibility and also the motion range in the affected joints. This may be temporary or permanent; based on the medical attention given. People will start losing weight and start feeling fatigued and weak. Arthritis patients won’t have any specific diseases and also get crepitus. It is a clinical syndrome where a person will have a grating or crackling feeling around joints or lungs.

A person may also suffer from multiple arthritis diseases where he will have more than one type of arthritis. People who are having any of these symptoms should immediately go for medical treatments. Proper attention to the problem can help in eliminating the problem or controlling it. The diagnostic tests for arthritis include X-ray and blood tests. A person should always look out for the symptoms so that he can give proper medical attention to it. The earlier you find out; the better it is for treatment and cure.     

Arthritis pain relief is something that many individuals are seeking.  Distressing millions of individuals globally, arthritis is an incapacitating condition that is essentially a very painful inflammation of the joints. Over one hundred different types of arthritis have been identified. Many types  become so severe that the sufferer’s entire life style is totally disrupted.

There are hundreds of arthritis pain treatment modalities that are available in the market today, and most of these are in the form of pharmacological agents or drugs. Pain relievers or analgesics are on top of the list and are often recommended by physicians to their client to ease the arthritis pain. There are also topical pain agents that can be applied over the swollen joint area to relieve the inflammation that causes the severe and throbbing pain.

Initially, there were only basic hinge joints, and artificial knee joints have come a long way since then. There are artificial knee joints available that will fit your age and lifestyle. These joints attempt to mimic your knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends. There are specific criteria that your medical practitioner will take into account before recommending surgery for a knee replacement.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating disease that affects commonly the hands, wrists, and knees. The immune system mistakenly attacks itself and causes the joint lining to swell. The inflammation then spreads to the surrounding tissues, and can eventually damage cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis does not just affect the joints. Tendons are like ropes which run inside lubricated tubes.

THA is the most common form of surgery used to treat hip arthritis. The doctor will need to analyze various factors before deciding that THA is the best treatment for hip arthritis. The beauty of THA is that in time it will allow most patient to regain normal use of their hips, so they can resume the activities which may be so dear to them. Another strong reason for pursuing THA as a viable treatment option for hip arthritis, is the fact that the pain will be eased immeasurably- specifically the pain experienced at night, which is the worst.

Another possible method of pain relief is massage therapy. A great deal of pain is caused by stress and anxiety, and the advantage of massage therapy is that it causes you to deeply relax, thereby letting of a great deal of tension and pain. Your body relaxes, becomes looser, and pain levels can drop. Unfortunately, just like heat, this is also only a temporary solution. Still, it can feel wonderful during the therapy, and if you suffer from persistent foot or ankle arthritis pain, it may be worth investing in a foot spa. This combines massage and heat, and can do wonders to reduce pain in many people.

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Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis and affects approximately 2.1 million Americans. For years, it has been common knowledge that rheumatoid arthritis is more common in women than it is in men. The ratio has ranged any where from 60-70 per cent women greater than men.

Now… a new Finnish study has proposed that rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect women much more aggressively than it does men.

In the study, women tended to complain much more of symptoms like aches, pains and tiredness even when they appeared to have the same level of disease as men.

Details of their study of over 6,000 patients from 25 countries was published in the January 2009 issue of Arthritis Research and Therapy.

In this study, men and women were asked to complete questionnaires about their disease and underwent x-rays and multiple laboratory tests to assess how advanced their arthritis was.

The lead researcher, Dr Tuulikki Sokka, stated, “The level of rheumatoid arthritis appears to be pretty much the same in both sexes but the symptoms of joint tenderness and things like that appear to be worse in women. We found that women tell us they have more severe symptoms.”

While it is tempting to hypothesize it is because women are “weaker”, which is what the Finnish researchers posited, it is more likely that other factors account for this finding.

It may be that muscle mass plays a role and that damage due to rheumatoid arthritis may become much more apparent and symptomatic because of this factor.

Hormonal imbalance may play a role since rheumatoid arthritis is not only more common in women but it tends to go into remission in women who become pregnant. This is a phenomenon that still defies explanation.

Women also tend to be less reticent to voice their complaints.

Another possibility voiced by British researchers commenting on the study suggested that women may actually have more severe disease than men do.

Measurements of disease activity are not gauged according to gender. In clinical trials, measurement of disease activity is the same whether the patient is male or female. This may skew results in a study of this magnitude.

Women may actually suffer from a more severe variant of the disease.

This hypothesis is supported by another observation.

The British researchers commented that when they looked at the data, they noted that women tended to have more erosions (destruction of bone) than men did.”