What your joints need

Description

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, not degenerative, disease. It first appears as an inflammation in a joint’s synovium, the membrane that lines and lubricates the joint. Once inflamed, the membrane thickens and become sore and swollen-which in turn may limit the affected joint’s movement. In time, this inflammation spreads to other parts of the affected joint, causing even more stiffness and pain. Eventually, the inflammation can spread to organs, such as the heart, lungs, and eyes. Its ability to spread throughout the body makes rheumatoid arthritis a systemic disease-a disease that affects the entire body.

Inflammation is not a harmful state, per se. It’s actually your body’s normal response to infections and injuries, caused when your white cells battle an invading organism. Typically, the inflammation subsides after the infection is wiped out. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune system seems to fight the body instead of protecting it.

While the disease can strike at any time, it usually occurs between the ages 20 and 50. It affects approximately three times as many women as men.

Unlike illnesses that have a set progression of symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis is unpredictable. What symptoms appear, how often they appear, and what joints and organs are affected vary widely, depending on the individual. In some sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis will flare up occasionally, only to be followed by periods of normal health. Others experience recurring attacks without returning to a state of full wellness in between. Many experience a slow and steady increase in the severity of their symptoms over time.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

While medical experts have not identified a single cause for rheumatoid arthritis, possibilities include heredity, viral or bacterial infection, and emotional stress.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected

Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)

Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides

Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness

Anemia

Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

Conventional Medical Treatment

A series of blood tests, along with a thorough physical exam and medical history, can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. X-rays may also be helpful. Strategies for treating rheumatoid arthritis differ, depending on whether it is active or in remission. During a flare-up, a combination of rest, heat, and medication is prescribed. Anti-inflammatory drugsaspirin, in particular are the first line of treatment and may ease symptoms. There are several other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe gold salts, penicellamine, methotrexate, azathioprine, or anti-malarials, depending on how your symptoms progress. Corticosteroids can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, but they are usually reserved for those with more serious disease.

Physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is most effective when swelling and inflammation of the joint are suppressed with medications. Physical therapy can reduce deformity and restore function.

In severe cases, surgical removal of affected joint lining can prevent damage to other joint structures and cartilage. Another surgical procedure fuses the painful, uncushioned bones together but is only performed on the wrist, feet, ankles, and thumbs because it restricts motion. Tendon transfer is another surgical option for repairing damaged tendons and ligaments it is performed most frequently on the hands. Another option is arthroplasty, or joint replacement, which is usually performed on knees, hips, and shoulders.

a dog has a joint they can have arthritis. The cartilage in the joint may be inflamed, but it can also be joint fluid causing the issues within the bones. The main types of arthritis in dogs are osteoarthritis, immune mediated, infective, and idiopathic.

Dog arthritis comes in various forms. Just as in humans, arthritis is an inflammation in the joints. A dog may develop arthritis anywhere that they have a joint. The cartilage in the joint may be inflamed or it may be synovial fluid which is at issue in some cases. The most common types of dog arthritis are osteoarthritis, infective, immune mediated and idiopathic arthritis.

Arthritis in dogs is usually fist manifested as a slow and gradual limpness in the limbs. Lameness will be the result and may reach the point where the dog has a hard time walking. This will lead in most cases to the dog being less active in play, walks and even moving about the home. Stiffness is likely to be more severe in the morning or after a nap; the stiffness is often minimal in the daytime, however.

To understand the treatments for arthritis in dogs you must also understand the causes. The causes are normally because of injury to the affected area, obesity, or a result of a genetic or other disease such as hip dysplasia. Most of the younger dogs have issues with failure in the bone development causing the inflammation.

There is arthritis medicine for dogs that will help treat the inflammation. However, many dog owners find that natural treatments for arthritis in dogs are more helpful. Glucosamine for dogs and MSM for dogs are two of the more natural methods for treatment as herbal remedies. Glucosamine is a naturally occurring ingredient that is found in most foods. It has anti inflammatory components that are best for osteoarthritis.

Depending on the cause of the arthritis in dogs you may need to have medication for your pet. Some types of arthritis can be taken care of with a healthy diet and exercise. Obesity in dogs is one cause of arthritis. By helping the dog to maintain a natural weight for their size and eating a healthy diet you can eliminate the pain of arthritis. The joints may still experience some lasting effects; however this is minimal damage that can be treated with more glucosamine in the diet as well as other herbs.

Many times, just a change in diet can be enough to treat the symptoms of arthritis in dogs. Especially in tandem with exercise, diet can relieve arthritis in many dogs. Just as in humans, obesity can lead to arthritis. If the animal is kept at a healthy weight, then much of the pain of arthritis will simply disappear.

Again the method of treatment should depend on the severity of the arthritis as well as the cause of it. Some causes are something you must treat, but cannot be rectified, unlike obesity that can be treated and corrected.

Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural: arthritides) is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people older than fifty-five years.

There are many forms of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The forms range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many forms of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.

Causes

There are about 200 different kinds of arthritis. The most common type is osteoarthritis (or degenerative arthritis), where the cartilage that protects the bones gets worn away. This makes joints stiff, painful and creaky.

It’s often caused by normal wear and tear of the joints, so usually occurs as people get older and the protective joint cartilage is worn away. But younger people can also get it, often because of an accident or sports injury where a joint has been placed under unnatural strain.

Symptoms

* Joint pain

* Joint swelling

* Stiffness, especially in the morning

* Warmth around a joint

* Redness of the skin around a joint

Obesity may worsen arthritis symptoms

Being overweight does affect people with arthritis. Joints affected by arthritis are already under strain. If you are overweight or obese, the extra load on your joints may be exacerbating your symptoms, especially if your affected joints include those of the hip, knee or spine. There is also a clear link between being overweight and an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Treatment of Arthritis

A cornerstone of therapy of any form of arthritis is physical therapy and occupational therapy to maintain joint mobility and range of motion. The proper kind and amount of this therapy will vary depending upon the underlying cause and upon individual factors that your physician will discuss with you.

Many drugs are now used to treat the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis. Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, and others), naproxen (Naprosyn, and others) and dicolfenac (Voltaren), have immediate analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and are relatively safe.

Tips on staying active

* Lose weight if you’re overweight.

* Exercise regularly for short periods.

* Go to a physical therapist if you can.

* Use canes and other special devices to protect your joints.

* Avoid lifting heavy things.

Hand arthritis is the most common form of arthritis that mainly affects the fingers. As in most forms of arthritis the joints become inflamed resulting in pain. Essentially, a joint is made up of two bones that are covered by cartilage and are conjoined together moving smoothly across each other. If this smooth surface becomes damaged or wears out over time, arthritis will result.

Hand arthritis is specifically painful and debilitating due to the fact that hands have nineteen bones and eight small bones that has several small joints. The more common forms of hand arthritis include osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Further causes of hand arthritis might include psoriasis, gout and infection.

Hand osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on the hand joints over time resulting in inflammation and pain. Normally it is a result of this wear and tear, however it can also be the result of a specific hand injury. Hand osteoarthritis arthritis generally develops either along the bottom of the thumb, the wrist, the end joint that is closest to the tip of the finger and the middle joint of the finger.

The most common symptoms of hand arthritis are pain, swelling and reduced movement resulting in diminished grip and pinch strength. The doctor or physician will also examine all other joints to help aid the diagnosis of hand arthritis. The doctor can also determine the severity of the hand arthritis by observing the clinical appearance of the hand. Further to this X-rays will be utilized to further identify the severity of hand arthritis by seeking potential bony outgrowths.

There are various treatments and forms of reducing the pain of hand arthritis. Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory medications will normally be the first treatment utilized for hand arthritis. Resting the hand is also crucial in terms of re-habilitating the area- a hand or wrist support may be required to aid this re-habilitation.

Physical therapy for hand arthritis has also proven to be very effective as a treatment option. There are specific exercises, which can help in loosening the stiffened joints caused by the hand arthritis. Steroids can also be injected locally into the affected area, however this is only a form of pain relief, and certainly not a long-term treatment option for hand arthritis.

Surgery is most certainly the last resort as a treatment option for hand arthritis. The doctor or physician will seriously evaluate the patient’s health, age, weight and risks of complications before recommending hand surgery as a viable treatment option for hand arthritis.

Conclusion

Hand arthritis can be an extremely debilitating condition, however with proper diagnosis by your doctor or physician the symptoms can be effectively managed and re-rehabilitation can take place. Like most forms of arthritis early diagnosis is the key to aiding recovery in hand arthritis.

When a patient has arthritis, the type of arthritis with which they are diagnosed can make a major difference in how it’s dealt with both at a personal and medical level. Experience with arthritis shows up in the form of painful joints, but there are many symptoms that can distinguish one condition from others.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It’s often called degenerative joint disease and tends to be more common in older adults. However, osteoarthritis can still appear in younger people, when it is normally the result of injury, a hereditary disorder or metabolic problem.

With osteoarthritis, there is a wearing away of the smooth cartilage of the bone, resulting in exposed ends forming new bone. The overgrowth of this bony material is a confirmation on the diagnosis. It is often accompanied by pain when there is a shifting of joints along with and a sensation of grating known as “joint crepitus.” This is where the bone ends that are both exposed and dry begin to rub against each other. Inflammation is not typically connected with Osteoarthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is very different from osteoarthritis. With this form of the disease, the immune system malfunctions, causing the synovial joints to inflame. However, though inflammation is a common response of the immune system, the body is unable to control it. This inflammation and swelling weakens the ligaments and the joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis can not only lead to deformity, but it can also be very painful. When a patient is experiencing an inflammation, simple tasks like opening a bottle or using a pen can be extremely painful and almost impossible. Rheumatoid arthritis will either worsen or often stay stable for a number of years before deteriorating further.

The disease is often diagnosed in 5 stages. Stage 1 has no visible or apparent symptoms other than those that can be detected through lab analysis. Stage 2 is accompanied by small amount of stiffness (usually in the mornings) and some swelling.

Stage 3 causes the synovial membrane to proliferate, and drug treatments are often required. During Stage 4, this disease continues to spread to the cartilage and joint swelling becomes more pronounced. At Stage 5, irreversible destruction has been caused and the patient is typically under high duress.

Rheumatoid arthritis is typically identified during Stage 2 or Stage 3 and after the patient has exhibited one or all of the following symptoms for a number of weeks – joint stiffness, swelling in the joints, swelling around the joints or swelling on either side of the joints.

Spondyloarthropathies

Spondyloarthropathies are a grouping of disorders which attack the spine and include psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis (causing a fusing of the bones in the spine), and intestinal arthropathy. Spondyloarthropathies affects over two and-a-half million adults in the U.S. and is the third most common type of arthritis.

If you think you have an arthritis type of any of the kind listed above, then you should talk to your doctor about testing and obtaining possible treatment. The earlier arthritis is diagnosed, the better the patient’s long term quality of life.

Many yoga exercises can help with arthritis pain relief. Learn how to do neck arthritis yoga exercises in this free health video. Expert: Swami Vidyanand Bio: Swami Vidyanand is the founder of transformational yoga & honorary president of the world yoga council of the international yoga federation. Filmmaker: kate vimal

The cornerstone of successful treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an early diagnosis and aggressive medical therapy. In addition, though, there are non-drug therapies that can be beneficial for many patients.

The following is a rundown of things that help patients at our center.

While glucosamine sulfate/ chondroitin have been used mainly to treat osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, it can be helpful in the patient with both RA as well as OA. There is very little data regarding its use in patients with both conditions. However, many patients report that symptoms improve with the addition of a good quality form of glucosamine and chondroitin.

If a patient is a smoker, there is abundant evidence indicating that smoking increases the risk of developing RA. In one study looking at more than 350,000 women, those who smoked more than 25 cigarettes per day had a relative risk of 1.4 of developing RA compared with those who never smoked. In addition, patients with RA who smoked were more likely to develop aggressive joint disease associated with more joint damage, rheumatoid nodules (swelling under the skin near joints), and higher levels of rheumatoid factor, a blood test that correlates closely with disease activity.

Physical and occupational therapy can be very helpful for those patients with significant RA. In addition to range of motion, muscle strengthening exercises are extremely important. The goal of an early muscle-strengthening program is to prevent long-term disability and improve physical function. There is significant data indicating that patients with RA who participate in strength-training programs show overall improvement in muscle strength and functional capacity. Beneficial effects of occupational therapy (OT) in patients with established RA, while sparse, do indicate that it is helpful. In our clinic, we feel that patients with significant hand and wrist problems benefit greatly from OT evaluation.

Non-impact aerobic exercise is critical for a number of reasons. It improves endurance, reduces fatigue, increases muscle strength, reduces pain (through endorphin production in the brain), and also gives an RA patient a sense of control over their disease. Non impact aerobic exercise can be done with swimming, a stationary (or regular bicycle), or elliptical trainer.

Dietary fish oil supplement has been shown to decrease signs and symptoms of RA. Fish oil contains omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids inhibit the metabolism of arachidonic acid into pro-inflammatory substances such as prostaglandins. The clinical benefits are delayed for 2-3 months and require moderately high doses of 3-7 g per day. A recent study noted additional improvement in RA symptoms and functional capacity when dietary fish oil was combined with olive oil.

The use of various herbal and vitamin supplements that contain antioxidants and therapeutic amounts of anti-inflammatory compounds such as gamma linolenic acid may also provide relief.

Complementary therapies such as yoga, t’ai chi, meditation, prayer, chiropractic (in selected cases), acupuncture, music therapy, hypnosis, guided imagery, cold laser, ultra high frequency electrical stimulation, and so forth all have their place in the pantheon of therapy.

This is where treatment of arthritis becomes both an art as well as science.

A child copes with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Watch this and more health videos at: www.answerstv.com

The diagnosis of heel pain is best done by looking at the location of the pain… “where does it hurt?”

Heel pain can occur in two major locations: the back of the heel and the bottom of the heel.

Pain at the back of the heel has three major causes.

Achilles tendonitis is the most common. It is usually the result of injury or overuse. An example is the weekend warrior who decides to go out and run 4 or 5 miles going up hills… or a person who goes on a long walk in flat shoes, shoes with little or no heel. In both cases, stress is placed on the Achilles tendon- the large thick cord located in the back of the heel.

This tendon- the largest in the body- connects the gastrocnemius (calf) muscle to the back of the heel.

The likelihood of Achilles tendonitis developing is increased if a person has flat feet. Older patients taking corticosteroid medications and people treated wtih quinolone antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro) also are at increased risk of Achilles tendonitis and even Achilles tendon rupture.

Haglunds syndrome presents with a bony bump located at the back of the heel. A bursa (small sack of fluid) located near the bump may contribute to the swelling. The Achilles tendon insertion near the bony swelling may become inflamed. Because of the location, this syndrome is often referred to as “pump bumps” and the cause often attributed to womens’ shoes.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon at its insertion into the heel can be seen with certain types of arthritis, specifically the spondyloarthropathy group which consists of Reiter’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Other signs of disease such as low back pain and stiffness, rash, and joint swelling may provide clues to diagnosis.

Pain in the bottom of the heel is usually due to plantar fasciitis.

Pain in the plantar fascia presents with sharp stabbing pain in the bottom of the heel. Plantar fasciitis is a common problem that is due to repetitive trauma to the soft tissue in the heel.

Typically a patient will feel fine so long as they are lying down or sitting. But if they get up to walk, the pain feels like an ice pick is being jammed into the bottom of the heel.

This pain gets better over several minutes but occurs again after inactivity followed by weight-bearing.

Causes of plantar fasciitis include:

• An abrupt increase in activity

• Worn footwear,

• Footwear with no arch support (eg., flip-flops)

• Obesity

• Recent rapid weight gain such as with pregnancy

• Overuse as in excessive running and over-training

• Systemic inflammatory arthritis (particularly ankylosing spondylitis and other spondyloarthropathies such as Reiter’s disease and psoriatic arthritis).

Treatment involves first establishing the diagnosis. Most of the time, the diagnosis can be suspected by the history and physical examination.

Imaging tests such as diagnostic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the diagnosis, if necessary. X-rays may reveal the presence of a heel spur. A heel spur, by itself, is not the cause of pain in the bottom of the heel and heel pain should not be attributed to “a heel spur”.

Once the diagnosis has been made, treatment options include:

• Identifying likely causative factors such as excessive weight, inappropriate footwear, and errors in training.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) sometimes provide symptomatic relief.

• Therapeutic taping gives short-term symptom relief.

• Exercises to stretch the heel cord and plantar fascia.

• Orthotic devices can help in the short-term reduction of pain. These can be off-the-shelf or custom made. For people with Achilles tendonitis, having the patient wear a lift in the shoe to elevate the heel will help reduce symptoms.

• Glucocorticoid (steroid) injection may also work for plantar fasciitis and should be used if the patient has not responded to conservative measures. The use of diagnostic ultrasound to guide the injection is recommended.

Caution should be observed with the Achilles tendon as far as steroid injection. The tendon can be weakened if steroids are directly injected. This then can lead to Achilles rupture.

The bursitis that occasionally accompanies Achilles tendonitis (retrocalcaneal bursitis) will respond to steroid injection.

If a patient is taking a quinolone antibiotic (such as ciprofloxacin), it should be discontinued and the patient should be monitored for tendonitis and tendon rupture.

Night time braces are sometimes used for plantar fasciitis.

Often the best treatment for heel pain, whether it is located in the back or on the bottom, is rest.

A surgical solution should be considered for those patients with intractable pain which remains despite conservative treatment.

There are similarities in the symptoms of different types of arthritis, however about 15 percent of the patients that exhibit rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the joints, may also be affected by the ailment attacking organs in the body as well. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the joints causing destruction of the cartilage. When the disease also attacks other organs it can lead to severe pain and become disabling. Typically, blood tests are required to diagnose this disease if the patient is also presenting other rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

The most common of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is joint pain caused by the membrane surrounding the joint becoming inflamed. While it can affect nearly every joint in the body, it most commonly attacks the smaller joints in the hands, feet and the cervical spine. Severe rheumatoid arthritis symptoms often leave patients with painful movement and can be debilitating.

Although the smaller joints are the usual target, when it attacks larger joints such as the knees, elbows and hips movement may become so painful as to be impossible. There may also be swelling in the skin surrounding the joints, accompanied by tenderness. However, in many patients many of the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will be worse when they first get out of bed, lessening after an hour or so of painful movement.

Symptoms May Vary Among Patients

For many people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis early symptoms may also include swelling of the skin, especially around the joints, due in part to small blood vessels near the surface of the skin being affected by the disease. Those who wake up in the mornings with stiffness, swelling and severe pain that sees to lesson the longer they are awake, may be showing rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and should contact their doctor for confirmation.

There are also some complications that, although considered rare, that can be devastating to the patient. Hardening of blood vessels, kidney problems and heart disease have all been attributed to this form of arthritis. Doctors recommend early diagnosis and appropriate treatment as soon as the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are noticed. About one third of the deaths in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been attributed to heart disease.

Those suffering rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the early stages, may not show signs of joint degeneration. However, the longer they are afflicted by this disease, the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the joints will become more apparent in x-rays as well as in other non-blood related testing.