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What is Arthritis?

Arthritis literally means “joint inflammation” and can affect joints in any part of the body. A joint is where two or more bones come together such as the knee, shoulder or wrist. Healthy joints are covered with a sponge-like material known as cartilage. The joint itself is enclosed in synovium, a sturdy sheath that produces synovial fluid that assists the cartilage in limiting friction between the bones. A joint that is affected by arthritis will become inflamed which causes symptoms that range from mild pain, swelling, redness, heat, stiffness, and severe joint pain that may make it difficult to move.

Arthritis is a general term for a group of more than 100 diseases associated with joint inflammation. The three most common kinds of arthritis include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. Arthritis is one of the most common diseases in the United States and affects at least 80 million Americans, half of whom are age 65 and older. Arthritis is often a chronic disease, meaning it can affect the person afflicted over a long period of time. Arthritis cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be treated through a variety of joint pain products and methods.

Types of Arthritis

Although there are more than 100 different diseases associated with the term arthritis, the three most common are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It mostly affects the cartilage, the tissue that covers the ends of the bones within a joint to create a cushion between the bones. Over time, or because of disease, the cartilage may begin to wear out or decay; in some extreme cases, all the cartilage can be worn out leaving nothing to keep the bones within the joint from rubbing against each other. This friction often leads to pain and swelling, and in some cases disability. Although osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, it most often affects the large weight-bearing joints such as knees, hips, and feet, as well as the hands, low back (spinal facet joints) and neck.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that not only affects joints in any part of the body, but may also attack tissue in the skin, lungs, eyes, and blood vessels. Classified as an autoimmune disease, the immune system of a person with rheumatoid arthritis mistakenly turns against the person’s body and starts attacking the joints, which leads to swelling in the joint lining. In addition to the usual symptoms associated with arthritis such as pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in the joints, a person with rheumatoid arthritis may feel tired and be feverish. Rheumatoid arthritis generally affects the person in a symmetrical pattern, meaning if the left knee is involved, the right one will be affected too.

Gout is one of the most painful rheumatic conditions and often begins with a sudden onset of intense pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints, which may also be warm to the touch and red. Gout is brought on when the body cannot eliminate a naturally occurring substance called uric acid. Before an attack, uric acid in the form of needle-like crystals, build up in the connective tissue in the joint. This deposit leads to inflammation of the joint. Gout is often triggered by stressful events, alcohol or drugs, or the presence of another illness, and frequently affects joints in the lower part of the body including knees, heels, ankles, or toes.

This article is originally published here: Arthritis Pain

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1.) Rheumatoid Arthritis is the most common type of inflammatory arthritis. There is 2.1 millions people in the U.S. that have it. It develops mostly between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age. But can develop at any age.

2.) Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease. It is a chronic disease and it is triggered by the immune system. Autoimmune diseases happen when the body tissues are attacked mistakenly by the body’s own immune system. The immune system has a complex organization of cells and antibodies that normally seek and destroy invaders like bacteria. This can cause inflammation in joints and it can also target important organs in the body like the lungs, kidneys, and heart.

3.) Blood tests and physical exams are used in combination to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. There is no 2 cases of rheumatoid arthritis that are the same. And the course its going to run can be very unpredictable. Some people who have it can have very severe joint pain and their x-rays can show that there is no damage done to the joints. Some patients have a lot of joint damage and don’t experience very much pain at all. So in order to find the best treatment for one’s case many tests and exams are done to determine the best treatment.

4.) There are 2 types of Arthritis, seropositive and seronegative. The word “sero” comes from serum. This means seronegative happens when blood tests can show up negative when tested for rheumatoid arthritis. Signs and symptoms are still there it just doesn’t show up in blood tests. This does not mean, however, that it is a less severe case of rheumatoid arthritis. Only about 20% of rheumatoid arthritis cases are seronegative.

5.) Recognizing the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis is important. Getting the earliest diagnosis can prevent severe damage to joints, bones, muscles, and organs later on. Early symptoms include warmth, swelling, and pain that occur in small joints like fingers, wrists, and feet. Stiffness in the morning that can last up to an hour or more and fatigue that normally goes along with loss of appetite and fever. Joints that are affected are normally symmetrical, and lumps can be present in the areas. Deformities in joints and damage to tendons, ligaments, and cartilage can be signs too.

6.) Rheumatoid arthritis is more common to occur in women than in men. Genetics and hormones are said to be the major role in the cause rheumatoid arthritis. This does not mean that men hardly get arthritis. This means that certain kinds of arthritis are more common in women than men. Arthritis such as gout and ankylosing spondylitis are more common in men than women.

7.) Joint damage can occur quickly in rheumatoid arthritis. Damage can occur within 2 years of being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This is why it is so important to get diagnosed early is so important. Your doctor will be able to determine whether an aggressive approach is needed or not.

8.) The risk of disability for rheumatoid arthritis is high. An early diagnosis can mean saving your body from severe damage like joint and bone deformities and even crippling.

Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. according to the center of disease control and prevention.

9.) A product called Rhumatol that Alternative Health Supplements offers can support your joints and cartilage. It can improve your energy, give relief from joint discomfort, supports cartilage for comfort and mobility, and it is all natural with no side effects. This product also supports immune system and autoimmune health. It will improve your over all health and sense of well being.

10.) There is still hope, help, and new medical research being done to treat and cure rheumatoid arthritis. If you get diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis don’t lose hope, there is a lot that can be done to treat it and keep your life as normal and healthy as possible. It can get emotionally overwhelming, financially stressful and disabilities can be frustrating but keeping your head up will make you stronger.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), is one of the most debilitating of all 100 or so forms of the disease, causing joints to ache and throb and eventually become deformed. Rheumatoid Arthritis can make simple things like opening a jar or taking a walk excruciating for sufferers.

Unlike osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear on the joints, RA is an inflammatory condition. Its exact cause is unknown, but researchers believe that it is the caused when the body’s immune system attacks the tissue that lines the joints.

Who gets Rheumatoid Arthritis? Women between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age, fall victim to this debilitating disease two to three times more than men. Statistics show that no one is immune from it, however. Even children and the elderly have been diagnosed.

To date, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but treatments are being used to help sufferers protect joint damage in order to live more productive lives.

The Symptoms:

The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may come and go over time, according to Mayo Clinic experts, and may include:

-Pain and swelling of the joints, especially in the hands and feet.

-Generalized aching or feelings of stiffness of the joints and muscles.

-Loss of motion.

-Loss of strength in muscles attached to the affected joints.

-Fatigue, which can be severe during a flare-up.

-Low-grade fever.

-Deformity of the joints.

-General sense of not feeling well.

Rheumatoid arthritis usually causes pain in several joints at the same time. In its early stages, the joints of the wrists, hands, feet and knees are most affected, followed by pain in the shoulders, elbows, hips, jaw and neck as the disease progresses.

Small lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, are also common under the skin of the elbows, hands, feet and Achilles tendons during outbreaks. They can be as small as a pea, or as large as a walnut, and generally aren’t painful.

Considered a chronic disease, rheumatoid arthritis features severe flare-ups featuring severe swelling, pain and weakness, followed by days, weeks or months of normalcy.

What Causes Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Although a specific cause is not known, some researchers suspect that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by a virus or bacterium infection in some people. Hormones are also being researched as a development factor.

Risk Factors:

With no known cause, it’s hard to know for sure who will get RA, but some risk factors may include:

-Age. The risk of getting rheumatoid arthritis seems to increase with age, until age 80, where it suddenly decreases.

-Sex. Females are more likely to contract RA then men.

-Viral Exposure. Being exposed to an infection, possibly a virus or bacterium that may trigger rheumatoid arthritis.

-Genes. Inheriting specific genes may make some people more susceptible.

When To See A Doctor:

Persistent discomfort and swelling in multiple joints on both sides of the body may be a sign that it’s time to seek medical treatment. Your doctor can work with you to develop a pain management and treatment plan for your rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis has different symptoms in different individuals. What most people tend to complain when suffering from rheumatoid arthritis differs greatly, based on each individual. A lot of people suffer various symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis that is not similar with others. So, don’t be surprised if you find someone else having different symptoms than you are having.

Most people believe that acupuncture is a painful solution for arthritis, but this is not true. Also, they think that since acupuncture involves the use of needles, the pain will be unbearable. This is however not true. Contrary to the belief that acupuncture is painful, it is less painful than most methods of pain treatment.

Although rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the joint, it can affect the entire body. So, don’t think that it’s only a particular part of your body that can be affected by arthritis. Far from it. The whole parts of a human body usually suffer as a result of rheumatoid arthritis even though it affects the joints more. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, be informed that you could generally suffer tremendous pain, not just in your joints, but other parts of your body as well.

Patients of Rheumatoid arthritis can access the RP program “Let’s Talk” organized by The American Arthritis Foundation. If you are an American or stay in the United States, ensure you avail yourself to The American Arthritis Foundation to learn effective ways of getting relief from arthritis. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, check out the American Arthritis Foundation for their RA program ‘Lets Talk’. In conjunction with Bristol-Meyers Squibb, The American Arthritis Foundations helps arthritis victims to get enough information about the best and most effective ways to get relief from arthritis pains.

Don’t forget that arthritis is a chronic disease that can wreak havoc of pains on you for many years, if you don’t know what to do about it. There is no specific period for arthritis as it can attack when it feels like and stays as long as it pleases. But thanks to medical breakthroughs, we can kick it out when we feel like as well. What’s important is to acquaint yourself with the right kinds of information about arthritis, including knowing the right kinds of arthritis medication to take. As you know – information is wealth any day and any time.

People who suffer from ankylosing spondylitis are usually bent from the chest. Whenever you experience any kind of problem or pain in your chest, see your doctor immediately. Some of the symptoms affecting victims of ankylosing spondylitis include bending in the chest and hip pain. Because victims of ankylosing spondylitis are often bent in the chest, they usually have a problem of breathing freely.

As difficult as it sounds to believe, simple orange and other fruit and vegetables are not only effective in treating arthritis, but also popular. The use of fruit and vegetable, such as oranges can minimize the effect of arthritis. But don’t forget to seek your doctor’s advise before taking any kind of fruits or vegetables.

Gout arthritis can be trigged by a substance in the body. Although there are other causes of gout arthritis in the body, the most common is a particular substances naturally found in the body. Foods like mushrooms, asparagus as well as excess alcohol can trigger gout arthritis beside the natural body substance known to trigger gout.