Doctor What Is Arthritis, Brief Answer

By Ann Parker


Arthritis is an inflammatory condition that manifests in a range of symptoms depending on the part of the body that is affected. This disease affects people of all races, sex, gender and social status regardless of their age. In America, this is the main cause of disability, with more than 50 million adults affected and 300,000 children being arthritic. This begs the question, doctor what is arthritis?

Painful joints are the first signs that you have osteoarthritis, a common type. Rheumatic arthritis does not localize the pain, leaving it to spread to the entire body. The pain results from degenerating cartilages separating bones at the joint. When these bones rub on each other without oil, they become very painful. In the absence of the cartilage, fluid accumulates between the joints, leaving you in a lot of pain.

The pain appears at any age or time depending on how much the cartilage has worn out. The extent o f wear for the cartilage depends on how far the disease has progressed, the heredity fact and whether you have an injury. Your health condition will also be a factor. Women are the most affected. The early signs include stiffness when you move with itching and soreness even as you perform ordinary chores.

The early signs include an abnormal inability to move your joints. This may also be accompanied by a recurring and very painful joint. One or more joint may also begin to swell. The affected joint begins to feel warm and eventually swells. These signs will manifest with different degrees of severity.

Arthritic pain is best diagnosed by your physician who you should seen whenever you experience any of the symptoms above. Schedule an appointment with your doctor or rheumatologist to get a confirmatory test. The levels of inflammation around your joints and blood will be examined. There are antibodies that will also be tested to confirm the actual type of inflammation afflicting your joints or body.

Arthritic pain is only managed since cure is not yet available. Your doctor will recommend a number of measures depending on your condition. They include striking a balance between work and rest, sessions of hot and cold therapy, regular physical exercises, checking your weight and additional support to strengthen muscles around joints. There are assistive devices that you can use for your joints or take over-the-counter drugs for pain relief. Excessive repetitive movement should also be avoided.

Surgery is recommended when the condition becomes extreme. The cartilage is replaced with an artificial one that involves surgery around your knee and hips. This will be a lasting solution. Joint fusion is another treatment procedure that involves locking two adjacent bones in a way that eliminates movement. By eliminating movement, you will also do away with the pain.

Take necessary management steps to eliminate pain from your joints. Your lifestyle needs to change with some of the options including keeping a healthy weight, increasing intake of high oxidant foods and consumption of anti-inflammation foods like nuts and fish. Boost your intake of fresh fruits, wild herbs and vegetables as well. Arthritic pain can also be dealt with by avoiding dairy products, meat, processed foods and fried foods.




About the Author: