Arthritis Treatments and Common Arthritis Symptoms

While most people suffer joint pain and inflammation at various points in their life, but arthritis is something different. At last count there are over 100 different types of arthritis that afflicts over 46 million adults in the United States, a figure that is expected to rise to over 67 million adults by 2030. While there are so many different types of arthritis with a myriad of symptoms each manifests differently. People have been under the impression that all types of arthritis are alike, settling for a general arthritis drug that may or may not have any effect on their type of disease. Because it is such a widespread condition, it is important to find out which type you have so that you can get proper treatment and minimize pain.

This article covers some of the basic types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus related arthritis.

Osteoarthritis

Perhaps the best know type, osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects about 33 million Americans. It comes  from wear and tear on the joints from overuse. It comes as a consequence of demanding sports and exercise, obesity and aging. Dancers and athletes can develop hip and knee pain later in life due to overstressing their joints in their younger years. With athletes it can strike early and is frequently inherited. It also is very common in middle-aged women showing up in the knees, hips, feet and spine. Onset is gradual, with no other symptoms of sickness with the exception of joint pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

As common as osteoarthritis is rheumatoid arthritis and it affects 1.3 million Americans. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis, which according to the American College of Rheumatology affects 75% of women, with 1 to 3% of women likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis during their life.

It is an autoimmune disease in that the immune system attacks different parts of the body with the joints being the main affected areas of this immune system malfunction. Chronic inflammation can damage the joints and cause deformities. One in five people with rheumatoid arthritis will develop lumps called rheumatoid nodules over the knuckles, elbows and heels.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are more severe than Osteoarthritis with more severe pain, loss of appetitive, stiffness, fatigue, and in some cases, fever. People with rheumatoid arthritis can feel pain and stiffness, experience swelling in their hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, feet, jaw and neck. More often it will affect the hands, knees and feet. Stiffness in rising in the morning may have been a nuisance in the beginning, but it will gradually last for longer and longer periods of time accompanied by fatigue which can be debilitating.

Psoriatic Arthritis

This is a chronic disease marked by inflammation of the skin in the form of psoriasis and joints. Skin can become patchy, raised, read and white with inflammation and scaliness. Psoriasis can affect the tips of the elbows and knees, scalp, navel and skin around the genital area or anus. About 10% of people with psoriatic arthritis can get sausage-like swelling in the toes and fingers with fingernails that are pitted and/or discolored. This type of arthritis strikes between the age of 30 and 50 and it affects both men and women. In 80% of patients diagnosed, the skin disease portion strikes prior to the arthritis portion.

Gout

Gout is a sudden onset, usually severe attack that generally affects the big toe although any joint can be involved. It is a metabolic disorder where uric acid builds up in the blood forming crystal in the joints. It can be managed and eliminated by a change in diet. It affects about 1 million American with over 70% of them being men. The first attack of gout can occur after 40 years of age.

Lupus: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This form of arthritis involves the skin, joints, muscles and even the internal organs. A rash develops on the face that resembles a butterfly mark, and usually appears in women of childbearing age although it can happen at other times as well. called Lupus or SLE, it affects about 131.,000 Americans of which nine to ten times higher in the female than their male counterpart. It is an autoimmune disease that affects various parts of the body because the body’s immune system is making proteins or antibodies. With Lupus the immune system can’t tell the difference between foreign materials or antigens and the body’s cells and tissues. As a result it releases auto-antibodies causing inflammation, pain and damage to different areas of the body. Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening depending on the severity and is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans than Caucasians.

You just got out of bed, and your arthritis is causing you so much pain that all you want to do is – exercise?  Believe it or not, exercising regularly is one of the best ways to control your arthritis pain.  However, the wrong types of exercises can end up increasing your pain instead of decreasing it.  There are certain types of exercises for arthritis sufferers, so it is important that you follow a strict regimen in order to help keep your pain at bay.

What types of exercises are safe for arthritis sufferers?   Four types of arthritis exercises work the best:  range-of-motion, stretching, strengthening, and endurance.  Let’s take a look at all four.

Stretching Exercises

The purpose of stretching exercises is to restore or help maintain flexibility to the muscles and tendons in our joints.  These exercises are the easiest to do and simply consist of stretching different joint and muscle groups and holding them in position for 20 to 30 seconds.  This can actually allow the fibers in our muscles to lengthen.  Stretching exercises can be repeated two to three times.

Range-of-Motion (ROM) Exercises

The purpose of ROM exercises is to restore or maintain normal movement of our joints and to help alleviate stiffness in our joints.  Arthritis sufferers need to move their joints – especially those bothered by arthritis – through their complete range of motion at least once a day.   ROM exercises can be repeated anywhere from five to ten times if your joints aren’t painful.  If there is pain, only repeat them three to five times.

Strengthening Exercises

These exercises assist our muscles in providing support and stability to our joints.  Two types of strengthening exercises are recommended for people who suffer from arthritis:  isometric exercises and isotonic exercises.  Isometric exercises are those in which you contract the muscle without moving the joint.  Isotonic exercises are those that use weights or elastic bands and apply resistance to the joint as it moves through its range of motion.

Endurance Exercises

These exercises are any activities that are considered to be aerobic exercise.  Any type of repetitive movement that involves the whole body will work – walking, swimming, dancing, mowing, raking leaves, etc.  These exercises have tremendous benefits for the body, including making your heart and lungs healthier, preventing disability, and improving your mood.  Low-impact activities are the best endurance exercises for arthritis sufferers.

Exercises to Avoid

While the best exercises for arthritis sufferers are listed above, there are two types of exercises that you should avoid.  These are exercises that put a lot of stress on a particular joint.  They include jogging, especially on asphalt, and weight lifting.  However, if you are determined to give these two a try, talk to your doctor first to get his advice.

Maintaining a regular routine of exercise is important for arthritis sufferers for a variety of reasons.  It helps keep their bodies limber and flexible, it helps lengthen their tight and constricted muscles, it helps provide stability to their joints, and it keeps their heart and lungs healthy.  In addition, it helps them to feel better about themselves.  The important thing is to know what ones work the best.  Exercise for arthritis sufferers?  You bet!