What your joints need

creakyjoints.org This 12-minute video captures the feelings and experiences of Elizabeth, a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient, undergoing infusion therapy, as she regains a more normal lifestyle, and decides to compete in her first triathlon. Hosted by CreakyJoints.org co-founder and person with arthritis, Seth Ginsberg, this upbeat DVD is used by physicians, nurses, patients, and care partners to educate and inspire. “This DVD video is an essential component for any IV infusion site, in a …

There are 3 main phenomena’s or symptoms of psoriasis, which can be detected with a scraping of the psoriatic plaques:

- the “stearin spot” phenomena – with the scraping of the surface of the psoriatic plaque there will appear silvery-white scales, that resemble stearin – a  tasteless and odorless substance used for the manufacturing of the soaps etc.

- the “terminal film” phenomena (aka the “psoriatic film” phenomena) – with the further scraping of the psoriatic plaque underneath the abundant silvery-white scales there appears a translucent tender skin, that resembles a film

- the “point hemorrhage” phenomena (aka the “blood dew” phenomena) – with the further scraping of the plaque there will appear a point hemorrhage – tiny dots of blood

In the progressive stage of psoriasis there is also is noted the Koebner phenomena, that was first explained by professor Koebner in 1872 – with any type of injury to the skin, be it a scratch, a cut, an irritation etc. – on the place of the injury there appears a new psoriatic plaque.

The progressive stage of psoriasis is commonly noted with the first appearance of psoriasis on the body of a person. Therefore it is extremely necessary to watch out for any injuries to the skin at the moment of the first appearance of psoriasis. Any injury, be it the scratches obtained from a pet, piercing your ears, getting a tattoo etc. – may trigger the appearance of psoriatic plaques precisely on the injured spots.

Psoriasis first appears as small red papules, covered with silvery-white scales. The papules grow and merge with one another, forming psoriatic plaques. The plaques are usually have a very pronounced boundary and can be easily distinguished from the skin that was not affected with psoriasis.

Psoriasis in the progressive stage is usually accompanied by itching, which subsides when the process transforms into the stationary stage. In the stage of regression psoriatic plaques flatten and disappear, leaving after themselves only the bright spots, which also disappear with the course of time.

Psoriasis usually “prefers” the following skin locations: the extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees and the scalp, then it may also appear on the chest, the back and the rest of the body.

Psoriasis often also manifests itself on the nails. The nails in this case become fragile, they lose their gloss and color, and they lift up above the nail bed. Psoriasis on the nails often also appears after some kind of damage of the nails – artificial nail placement etc.

Sometimes psoriasis may also affect the joints – this type of psoriasis is called psoriatic arthritis or psoriatic arthropathy. In this case there may appear pains in the joints, as well as the deformities of the joints if the process progresses further without obtaining the effective treatment.

Some lucky people never develop psoriasis anywhere other than their elbows and knees – where they have the so called “on-duty plaques”. Those lucky individuals may never experience the gore of scalp psoriasis, nail psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

There are a lot of myths and rumors surrounding rheumatoid arthritis. Mystery seems to surround everything from what actually causes the disease to potential ways to cope with the pain associated with it. The simple truth is that this particular disease can present in a number of different ways and how severe it is will really dictate the best path to consider for coping.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints within the body. It can cause such things as pain, swelling and stiffness. The disease itself tends to present systemically, which means if one side of the body has it, the other likely will, too. For example, if left knee shows signs of a rheumatoid condition, the right will, as well. In addition to stiffness and pain, rheumatoid can bring with it deformities in extreme cases, a sense of overall fatigue and even fevers.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that doctors are still researching to figure out exact causes. What is known is that this particular condition can come and completely go away without leaving behind permanent damage. It can also present with flare-ups that come and go over time. In some cases, unfortunately, the disease persists for years on end, bringing with it permanent damage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is most common in people in the middle age of life, but it can strike children at times. While the exact causes are unclear, many doctors believe it can come from such things as genetics, hormones, and even environment. Women tend to be more likely to get this condition than men.

Dealing with rheumatoid arthritis can be a very difficult task that will come with both good days and bad days. The pain can be unbearable at times, but the good news is there are very effective ways of coping with it. What works for one patient, might not work for another. Fortunately, there are a lot of different treatment options.

When it comes to treating rheumatoid arthritis, doctors strive to achieve a few things. The primary goals of any treatment are to reduce pain and swelling, stave off joint damage and help people feel better while staying active. The last two points are particularly important when the disease strikes the very young and very active. Since cures can often be worse than the condition, the goal here is pain reduction without quality of life reduction.

Depending on the severity of the case of rheumatoid arthritis, a doctor might prescribe such things as anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the swelling, which often helps with the pain. In some cases, painkillers will be advised, but many try to steer clear of this option. Other forms of treatment include gentle exercises to keep the range of motion good, cold compresses, injections and so on. The key, again, is to preserve quality of life while also preventing any permanent issues.

Since rheumatoid arthritis can sometimes be a lifelong condition, it can bring with it some emotional problems, as well. To help patients cope, there are even support groups that can be of real benefit.

Living life with rheumatoid arthritis isn’t easy, but it can be done effectively when patience, persistence and a willingness to overcome are all present. The best advice is to take it a day at a time and do what’s necessary to cope to make living with rheumatoid arthritis possible.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory arthritis of the spine. It may be a systemic disorder, and it affects males more often than females. Diagnosis is usually made during young adulthood. The disorder is characterized by back pain, stiffness, and loss of spinal mobility due to involvement of spinal joints. Later these joints tend to become fused and rigid. The hips and shoulders may also become inflamed and stiff.

Treatment

Physical therapy

Physical therapy is treatment to improve mobility (such as walking, going up stairs, or getting in and out of bed), to relieve pain, and to restore physical function and overall fitness. The physical therapist uses exercise, manual therapy, education, and modalities such as heat, cold, and electrical stimulation to work toward these goals.

Juvenile Arthritis

Juvenile arthritis, for the most part, is similar to arthritis in adults. It is estimated that 250,000 [1983] young people in the US have some form of arthritis.

The complications of juvenile arthritis can be quite variable. These diseases cause growth disturbances and result in high fever and skin rash more frequently than is the case among older patients. Disorders in other body tissues and organs also accompany the disease. Some 30% of patients develop permanent joint changes.

Treatment

Exercise helps maintain muscle tone. It also helps preserve and recover joint range of motion and function. The doctor may recommend a physical therapist to design an appropriate exercise program. It is important to balance activity with rest.

Although pain sometimes limits sports and physical activity, children with juvenile arthritis can often fully participate when symptoms are under control. Swimming is a particularly good exercise, because it uses many joints and muscles, without putting weight on the joints. In some cases, splints and other devices can help maintain joint alignment.

Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a specific type of arthritis closely connected with the incidence of psoriasis. The statistics vary depending on the source but sources state that between 8 and 23 percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis.

Treatment

There are different types of exercises that you can do to lessen your pain and stiffness:

•Range of motion exercises reduce stiffness and keep your joints moving.

•Strengthening exercises maintain or increase muscle strength.

•Endurance exercises strengthen your heart, give you energy and control your weight. These exercises include things like walking, swimming and cycling.

•Moderate stretching exercises help relieve the pain and keep the muscles and tendons around an affect joint flexible and strong.

Septic arthritis

Septic arthritis, also called infectious arthritis, is caused by an inflammation in the joints. Typically, septic arthritis affects the large joints — shoulders, hips, and knees – although smaller joints such as ankles and fingers may be affected. In a nutshell, septic arthritis occurs when a joint becomes infected. A germ such as a fungus, virus or bacterium causes the inflammation associated with septic arthritis.

Treatment

Septic arthritis usually requires immediate treatment with antibiotics which can improve symptoms within 48 hours. However, certain infections caused by fungi need treatment with anti-fungal medications, while viral infections usually have to run their course without treatment. To prevent accumulation of pus from the infection, which can damage the joint, pus may be drained with a needle, tube, or surgery.