General Information About Osteoarthritis

Common Characteristics of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is one of the most common ailments associated with getting older, and it is therefore most common in those parts of the world where people live the longest. More than 15 million Americans receive medical attention for osteoarthritis each year, and more than twice that many are affected by it to some degree. However, it rarely results in serious disability.

Osteoarthritis is essentially a "wear-and-tear" disorder. In typical cases, symptoms appear after the age of 50, and usually in the large joints that bear the most weight--the hips, knees, shoulders and spine.

Pain and stiffness are at their most uncomfortable upon arising in the morning and are likely to be intensified during damp, cold weather. (This does not mean, however, that symptoms are likely to disappear in a warm, dry climate.) Redness and swelling of the affected joints may also occur. Joints, particularly in the fingers, may become permanently gnarled by osteoarthritis, but this almost never interferes with their function. Painless bony bumps, known as Heberden's nodes, may also appear symmetrically on the fingers of both hands or on toe joints as well.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

When a person is young and spry, the joints between the bones swing freely like efficient, well-oiled hinges. Stresses and strains are absorbed by the cartilage pads that provide cushioning and lubrication at the ends of the bones where they constantly come together as the parts of the body make their coordinated movements.

Over the years, these protective layers become eroded, lubricating fluids diminish and the result is a sensation often described as "creaking" at the joints. In addition to a decrease in smoothness of function, small growths, or spurs, may develop on the bones in the area of the joints. These are 10 times more prevalent among women than among men and are likely to aggravate an already uncomfortable condition.

Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

Since the weight-bearing joints are the ones most commonly affected, stiffness and discomfort in the knees and hips are likeliest to occur first, especially in the overweight person or in someone whose life style involves long stretches of standing or walking. A visit to the doctor for diagnosis normally includes close inspection of painful areas as well as X-ray examination of the joints in question. (when X-ray pictures are taken for diagnosis of some other condition in younger patients, they usually reveal the beginnings of cartilage erosion in the weight-bearing joints at a stage that does not yet produce associated symptoms.) Other than X-rays and visual examination, there are no other diagnostic tests for osteoarthritis.

Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Where overweight exists as a contributing factor, efforts should be made to lose the extra pounds and keep them off. Application of warm, moist heat, slow and gentle massage of the affected joints and a reduction (not a total cessation) of normal activities are ways in which patients can help themselves when there is an intensification of discomfort. Where pressure on the weight-bearing joints can be diminished through postural adjustments, special exercises may be recommended.

Drug Therapy

Although inflammation is not one of the initial symptoms of osteoarthritis, as the joint degeneration progresses, swelling, redness and other signs of inflammation may occur. When this happens, anti-inflammatory drug therapy may be recommended.

Aspirin. Patients who can tolerate high doses of aspirin may be treated with this drug alone. However, patients on anti-inflammatory aspirin therapy, which may involve taking 16 or more tablets a day, should be aware of possible side effects, among which the most common are ringing in the ears, heartburn and other gastrointestinal upsets. To minimize gastrointestinal complications, the aspirin should be scheduled after meals. Acetaminophen, in smaller dosages, may be recommended as an alternative to aspirin.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. These are relatively new drugs that relieve the pain and joint inflammation of osteoarthritis. It is the physician's role to match the patient with the particular drug that will be most suitable and effective without adverse effects. Sometimes drugs are used in combination, but whatever the procedure, supervision by the doctor is usually indicated if maximum benefit is to be achieved.

Steroids. In those few cases where other measures fail, steroid drugs (cortisone) may be injected into the damaged joint for temporary relief. However, long-term treatment with steroids is not recommended for osteoarthritis.

Surgery

When an older person suffers such severe osteoarthritis that most normal activity becomes impossible, surgical replacement of the affected joints may be considered. Hip replacement, in which the entire hip joint or head of the femur is replaced, is the most common operation of this type. The replacement joint is made of plastic and metal parts and is held in place by special plastic cements. The artificial joints allow the previously immobilized patient to be relieved of crippling pain, and most activities can be resumed following physical therapy and regaining of muscle function.

More recent joint replacements include the knee--a joint that is more complicated than the hip and, consequently, poses more engineering problems in replacing. However, the newer artificial knee joints are providing good results, both in terms of pain relief and restoration of function.

Traumatic Arthritis

Closely related to osteoarthritis, traumatic arthritis is usually the result of excessive joint use combined with injury. It is commonly seen in athletes. Rest will usually resolve the problem, although in some instances, drugs or surgery may be required, particularly in the case of athletes who need to quickly regain the use of the injured joints.

Summing Up

For millions of people, osteoarthritis is an inevitable condition of aging. Most cases can be handled by rest and common sense. Anti-inflammatory drugs--both non-prescription painkillers such as aspirin or acetaminophen, or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents--may be used during flare-ups.

Osteoarthritis rarely turns into a crippling disease, but as newer and more effective drugs are available for reducing aches and pains to a minimum, there is little reason for allowing this particular cause of physical discomfort to be a dominating factor in determining one's life style in advancing years.

Natural Arthritis Pain Relief - By Doing Simple Arthritis Exercises

Treating arthritis is not easy.

Apart from the regular medication, proper diet, rest and
relaxation, doctors also recommend arthritis exercises.
These are specially designed exercises for people with
different types of arthritis. Exercising is a must do for
all people suffering of arthritis because it will help them
increase the flexibility of the joints, increase bone
vigor, muscle strength and energy levels, so they will have
a better control of their weight and a strong heart. But
most of all, exercising will help keep joints completely
movable and will fortify the adjacent muscles. This way,
arthritis sufferers will experience less pain when
performing the everyday activities. So it is fair to say
that arthritis exercises are strongly recommended for
arthritis patients by all the doctors in the world.

But depending on the type of arthritis one person might
have, the doctor will recommend a certain type of
exercises. People should not choose the exercises program
on their own; instead, always ask your doctor what
exercises are recommended for their type of arthritis.
Depending on the severity of the condition and which joints
are affected, the doctor will propose a certain type of
exercising program.

There are three types of exercises: range of motion,
strengthening and endurance. Range of motion exercises, for
example dancing, are the ones that move the joints in all
directions, as far as possible. These are the easiest type
of exercises recommended for all types of arthritis because
they will keep the joints mobile and will prevent
stiffness. Doctors advise their patients to perform a range
of motion exercises every day, or at least every other day.
The number and intensity of exercises can be gradually
increased as the patient gets in shape.

Strengthening exercises include isometric and isotonic
movements. Isometric exercises are the ones that work the
muscles without moving the joints, while isotonic exercises
work both the muscles and the joints. Both types of
movements help with building strong muscles around the
joints that are causing problems. Stronger muscles will
better support the joints, meaning pain will be reduced and
the patient will move more easily. Unless the patient has
swelled joints or severe pains, the doctor suggests doing
strengthening exercises every other day.

Endurance exercises are the ones that improve the
cardiovascular condition by increasing the heart rate for
at least 20-30 minutes. Not all arthritis patients can
perform endurance exercises. Depending on the patient's age
and physical condition, the doctor will recommend or not
endurance exercises and also the type of exercises.
Walking, bicycling or swimming are the best choices because
their joints are not that stressed by these type of
activities. For example, making exercises in warm water
will help in two ways: the warm water will aid by
decreasing the pain and relaxing the muscles, and at the
same time the water will be supporting the body, this way
placing less stress on the joints. Endurance exercises
should be performed three times a week for about 20-30
minutes.

There are also other types of simple exercises that can be
done by all arthritis patients. The every day activities
can be easily transformed into arthritis exercises. In the
morning when you get up and get dressed, try to amplify
your movements, this way the morning stiffness of your
joints will rapidly disappear. Also, take every chance to
do some household activities like: wash the car or do the
dishes because these movements will help decrease the pain
from your joints. When you watch television, during the
commercial breaks get up of your chair and do something;
even small movements burn calories and help you reduce your
weight. You can also park your car a little further away
from office or home as walking will do you good.

Before beginning an arthritis exercises program, always
consult an experienced doctor or a physical therapist. They
are the ones that can advise what exercises are recommended
for specific types of arthritis. They can suggest a
particular type of exercises for inflamed and swollen
joints or certain exercises for particular joints. The
exercising program should be started with easy exercises,
but the difficulty of the movements should be gradually
increased. The patient should also be careful to thoroughly
warm up before starting the exercises and cool down after
finishing the program.

Although exercising is good for arthritis patients,
occasionally some people can get into some uncomfortable
conditions: augmented weakness, constant fatigue, joint
swelling or pain that lasts more than one hour after
exercises are finished. This means that exercises are too
strenuous and the patient should talk to his doctor and
make the necessary changes in his exercises program. After
finding the ideal arthritis exercises program, the only
thing that patients have to do is to strictly follow it and
the improvements will soon appear.

Relieve Arthritis Pain With Blackstrap Molasses

First of all, let's look at the definition of blackstrap molasses - blackstrap is just one type of molasses which is the dark liquid byproduct of the process of refining sugar cane into table sugar, being made from the third boiling of the sugar syrup. It is the concentrated byproduct left over after the sugar's sucrose has been crystallized. It is an extremely rich source of vitamins and minerals. Blackstrap Molasses is found in good supermarkets and health food stores. Get the best quality available and make sure it's without sulphur. Store the bottle in the refrigerator once it's opened or a cool, dry place and it should keep for a good six months. Many people have been helped with their arthritis pain by taking one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses either by itself or dissolved in a cup of warm water. People start the day with this and maybe another dose either during the day, if necessary, or at night. Please remember this is a form of sugar and you should clean your teeth afterwards or risk tooth decay! Arthritis sufferers often take this natural remedy instead of a pain killer, and why not, if it works for you! You can experiment with this - if it isn't working well enough, then take two tablespoons instead of one, but one tablespoon seems to work for most people. Another tip about taking the molasses. If you have a hard time getting it down, then help yourself by adding orange or apple juice, even lemon juice. The main thing is that you take it so it's up to you to make it as pleasant as you can...

Another use is to dissolve a tablespoon in warm water and soak sore fingers, hands, wrists or feet to relief arthritis pain. People with fibromyalgia or carpal tunnel syndrome could also benefit from this.

As you have read above, blackstrap molasses is very rich in vitamins and minerals so it can help with many ailments - here are a few:

Canker sores: put it directly on the canker sore for almost immediate relief.

Constipation: Use a couple of tablespoons - it's a great laxative .

Energy: People report that they have much more energy and helps sugar cravings.

Acid Reflux: results are within days of first taking it.

Anemia: Blackstrap molasses is good as it contains so much iron - in fact it contains more iron than nine eggs!

Hair: Brings back the shine and apparently can even reverse graying hair.

From the above you can see that blackstrap molasses can be a great benefit for your health. It's easy to find in your supermarket or health food store and is a wonderful natural pain reliever especially for arthritis.

Arthritis Treatment: Should Combination Treatment Be Used for Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory form of arthritis affecting almost 2 million Americans. It is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune process driven by a complex array of cells, cytokines (protein messengers), and antibodies.

What is significant is that it is a disease that affects internal organs and is associated with a marked increase in morbidity and mortality when not treated aggressively. RA is a leading cause of disability as well.

In the early 1980's, methotrexate (MTX) assumed the position of being the disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) of choice when treating RA. DMARDS are supposed to slow the progression of disease and multiple studies confirmed the effectiveness of MTX in doing so. Unfortunately, as effective as this drug can be, there were still many instances when patients would not respond as well as hoped or they would sustain side effects that limited the use of the drug.

Multiple combinations of DMARDS have been used to "enhance" the effectiveness of MTX. These have included MTX plus Arava, MTX plus cyclosporine, MTX plus Azulifidine, and most often MTX plus Plaquenil and Azulfidine.

A recent study (TEAR) study purportedly showed that the latter combination was as effective as MTX plus a biologic medicine. The results of this study are still being discussed among rheumatologists. The upside is that combination DMARDs are significantly cheaper than biologics. The downside is that x-ray damage appears to be worse with combination DMARD than the combination of MTX and biologic. And x-ray damage correlates with future disability.

So let's talk about biologics. The biologic revolution began in the 1990's with the introduction of drugs such as Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira, and more recently Simponi and Cimzia, along with biologic drugs with other mechanisms of action.

It has been shown in a number of studies that the combination of MTX and a biologic is superior to MTX alone. There has been a recent surge of interest in the use of monotherapy with a biologic by itself.

Nonetheless, most rheumatologists still prefer to use MTX in combination with a biologic. All biologics appear to work well in combination with MTX. The exception is Kineret which is not used much by anyone I know, because it doesn't seem to be all that effective. However, Actemra, Orencia, and Rituxan all seem to work better with MTX in combination than MTX alone.

So bottom line... MTX works pretty well for RA but it appears to work even better when combined with another medicine, preferably a biologic.

Lupus, An Autoimmune Disease With Arthritic Symptoms

Lupus, an autoimmune disease strikes about one in two thousand people. Women are eight to ten times more likely to have lupus than men. Many of its symptoms mimic other diseases so it usually takes more than a year to make a definite diagnosis. Most often women from age twenty to forty are diagnosed with the disease although it can occur in either gender and after age fifty it is equally common to both men and women.

The person with lupus may look perfectly normal to family and friends or even Doctors. The disease can cause nausea, weight loss, and muscle weakness, as well as chronic inflammation in many different parts of the body, including the skin, muscles, and the joints, lymph nodes, and spleen.

The majority of people with lupus usually live full and normal lives. Although lupus is not a true form of arthritis; it is a connective-tissue disease and is classified as a rheumatic disease as the symptoms usually include swelling and joint pain.

Some people with lupus do develop symptoms of arthritis though only a few will suffer the deformities associated with more severe forms of that disease.

To date, there are no known cures for the disease. The causes of lupus are still a mystery; although it is thought that there could be an inherited predisposition to the disease. Some external trigger, perhaps a virus, could be responsible for starting the disease process in genetically predisposed people. Environmental factors, such as an injury, or an infection could contribute to the disease.

The biggest problem comes when trying to diagnose the disease. No two people present the same symptoms. The symptoms can include weight and hair loss, sores in the mouth, and some will get throat and facial swelling.

If the patient has a history of rheumatoid arthritis in their immediate family or a history of some other autoimmune disease, that could be a clue to determining if lupus is actually present. Joint inflammation for instance, would suggest arthritis; but if the inflammation is accompanied with a rash on the body consistent with lupus, the diagnosis is clearer. If there is inflammation around the lungs and the heart, that could be a further clue that lupus could be present.

The range of joints affected in lupus is almost the same ones that are affected in rheumatoid arthritis. While any joint in the body can be affected; it is usually the wrists, the large knuckles at the base of the fingers, and the middle finger joints. Knees fall victim to lupus more often than the hips. As a general rule, lupus patients seldom suffer any joint deformity.

Your diet, exercise and the proper amount of rest all play a significant role in the management of the disease. If you tire easily when going about your daily tasks; stop, take a break and don't overdo it. If you get over tired, that could cause a flare-up. Try to keep your stress levels at a minimum.

Exercise is important to maintain overall body health. It not only gives you more joint flexibility, makes you feel good, look better and live longer.

Last, but not least, your diet is very important, as it is with any arthritic condition. Best thing to do is consult with your Doctor and let him recommend a diet suitable for you.

Arthritis Pain - Understanding Its Signs and Causes - Health and Fitness Even With Arthritis

Arthritis is a term that includes a group of disorders which affect joints and muscles. Arthritis symptoms include joint pain, inflammation and limited movement of joints. When a joint is inflamed it may be swollen, tender, warm to the touch or red. In joint arthritis, the cartilage is usually damaged, narrowed and lost by a degeneration process or by inflammation. This makes movement painful. Arthritis is the most common and disabling chronic condition in women. Some myths hold it that Arthritis is a disease of aging. While this appears so, yet infants can be affected from birth with a form of arthritis known as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Pain
Dealing with pain can be the hardest part of having arthritis or a related condition, but you can learn to manage it and its impact on your life. Pain is the body's alarm system that tells us that something is wrong. When the body is injured, nerves in the affected area release chemical signals. Other nerves send these signals to the brain, where they are recognized as pain. Pain often tells the affected person that action is required. Long-lasting pain, like the one that accompanies arthritis, is different. While it tells you that something is wrong, it often is not as easy to relieve. Managing this type of pain is essential to enhance quality of life and sense of well-being.

Causes of Arthritis
Arthritis pain is caused by several factors, such as: inflammation, damage to joint tissues, fatigue that results from the disease process. Arthritis pain and inflammation cannot be avoided as the body ages. Along with physical changes, such as difficulty in moving, the emotional ups and downs of arthritis also can add to your pain. If you feel depressed or stressed because your movement is limited or you can no longer do some of the activities you enjoy, your pain may seem worse. You may get caught up in a cycle of pain, limited abilities, stress and depression that makes managing your pain and arthritis seem more difficult.

Signs of Arthritis
Arthritis pain can be ongoing or can come and go. It may occur when you are moving or after you have been still for some time. You may feel pain in one spot or in many parts of your body. Your joints may feel stiff and be hard to move. You may find that it is hard to do daily tasks you used to do easily, such as climbing the staircase or opening a jar or even writing. Pain and stiffness usually will be more severe in the morning or after periods of inactivity. In some cases of inflammatory arthritis, the skin over the joint may appear swollen and red, and feel warm to the touch. Some types of arthritis can also be associated with fatigue.

Types of Arthritis
There are five main types of Arthritis: Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Fibromyalgia, Lupus, and Gout. The two most common types, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis are frequently experienced by women. The various types of Arthritis and related conditions can affect anyone, no matter his race, gender or race.

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common one and is mostly known as degenerative joint disease. It causes damage to cartilage and bones causing joint pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function. It develops when cartilage (the smooth covering over the bones in the joints), starts to break down, usually as a result of aging, trauma or increased wear and tear. The result is pain and inflammation as bone rubs against bone.

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease that can affect the whole body, caused by abnormality in the body's immune system making it to work improperly and therefore leading to inflammation of the joints and some internal organs. Such chronic inflammation leads to deterioration, pain and limited movement. It is an autoimmune disease and has no known cause. Two percent of people worldwide are affected while it is three times more common in women than men. Symptoms of RA are inflamed, swollen, painful and deformed joints.

Understanding arthritis is essential for its management, treatment and control. Inadequate or incorrect information however, may lead to unnecessary panic with harmful consequences.

Discovering Arthritis - An Informative Guide

One of the most common misconceptions is that arthritis is a single condition. Actually, it's a group of conditions in which bones and joints have been damaged by adverse conditions. Typically, arthritis occurs in older people but it can develop in younger people too. Due to its widespread commonality, people must always be watching out for it.

Types of Arthritis

There's several types of arthritis with the most common being rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory condition that causes an immune system to turn on itself. It is one of the most painful and disabling kinds of arthritis.

It is a systematic disease, which means that it also affects additional articular tissues across the body including blood vessels and skin. The cause is still not known but it is widely believed to be infectious.

Unlike its counterparts, Psoriatic arthritis affects people who are afflicted by psoriasis which is a ruthless dry skin condition. Treatment for Psoriatic arthritis is similar to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis whereby the reduction and management of the inflammation that is controlled by the disease is the main focus of treatment.  

Gouty arthritis, on the other hand, is not the same in that it is caused by a congenital disorder. The classic symptoms are swelling, burning pain, inflammation and stiffness of the joints surrounding the area. It often affects several parts of the body in particular the knees, ankles, wrists, elbows, fingers, and spine.

Diagnosing Arthritis

Prior to being allocated the correct form of treatment for your condition, there must be a medical diagnosis. This can be done as soon as your doctor has carried out a routine set of tests. X-rays and blood tests are used in the forming of the final diagnosis whilst the screening blood tests may also prove beneficial if other arthritides are suspected.

Whilst there is no definitive form of prevention, there are several things that can be done to help you guard against the formation of the disease. One example would be making sure that you are taking in enough calcium, which will be helping to keep your bones strong and healthy. Strong and healthy bones will be much less likely to develop an arthritic condition.

If you suspect any form of arthritis, you must make sure that you make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. This will allow him to make a proper diagnosis and assessment and put you on the correct course of treatment to help the relief of your symptoms.