How To Treat Arthritis

Overview and Facts

What is arthritis? what are the symptoms of arthritis and how many types it has? How do you know if you have it? Here you will find answers about arthritis, it's symptoms, arthritis pain and more.

What is Arthritis?

Arthritis is an inflammatory disorder of joints that involves inflammation in one and more joints. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, that results due to trauma to the joints, infection of the joint, or age. Other arthritis forms are autoimmune related diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and septic arthritis.

The major complaint by individuals who have arthritis is joint pain. Pain is often constant and may be localized to the joint affected. The pain from arthritis is inflammation around the joint, daily wear and tear of the joint, muscle strains caused by forceful movements against stiff and painful joints, damage to the joint from disease, and from fatigue.

Classification of Arthritis

Disability due to musculoskeletal disorder is increased by 45% 1985 to 2011. In humans there are many diseases where joint pain is primary and is considered the main feature, generally arthritis has following types:

• Osteoarthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Septic arthritis
• Juvenile arthritis
• Gout and pseudogout
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Still's disease

Symptoms of Arthritis

The most common symptoms and signs of arthritis involve the joints. Depending on the type of arthritis you have, your signs and symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, decreased the range of motion, numbness or tingling in the hand, hard to heal injuries, foot trouble, and eye problems.

It is common in advanced arthritis for significant changes to occur. For example, arthritic symptoms might make it difficult for a person to move around and exercise, which can lead to secondary effects, such as:

• Muscle weakness
• Decreased aerobic fitness
• Loss of flexibility

Risk factors

Following are some of the risk factors of arthritis:

• Obesity

Carrying excess pounds puts stress on joints, particularly on your hip and knee joints. Obese people have a higher risk of developing arthritis.

• Inheritance

Some type of arthritis run in families so you may be more likely to develop arthritis if your parents or siblings have the disorder. Your genes can make you susceptible to environmental factors that may trigger arthritis.

• Age

The risk of many types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout - increases with age.

• Your sex

Women are more likely than are men to develop rheumatoid arthritis, while most of the people who have gout, another type of arthritis, are men.

Treatment of Arthritis

There is no known cure for either rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis. An effective arthritis treatment regimen can help manage the disease. There are many treatment options which you should know about. Over time, you may try several different treatments and change your treatment plan. The best and effective treatment options may include medications, lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and in chronic situations joint replacement surgery may be required.

• Medications

There are several types of medications that are used for the treatment of arthritis. Treatment typically begins with medications that have the fewest side effects with further medications being added if insufficiently effective.

Drug classes used to treat arthritis include:

1. NSAIDs ( non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs )
2. Pain Medications ( analgesics )
3. Biologic Response Modifiers ( Biologics )
4. Corticosteroids

Ask your doctor why specific medications were prescribed.

• Surgery

If you maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly, but the joint pain from your osteoarthritis or another type of arthritis is still debilitating following surgeries may be in your future.

1. Arthroscopy
2. Joint Resurfacing
3. Arthrodesis/ Fusion

• Natural Arthritis Treatments

Some people are more interested in natural treatments than traditional medications. There are many natural treatment options for arthritis but the following are some of the most effective and efficient natural products which make you feel better within few days.

1. Avocado soybean unsaponifiable: A natural vegetable extract made from one-third avocado oil and two-third soybean oil. 
2. Black currant oil: It is obtained from seeds of black currant. Black currant seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid.
3. Borage oil: Oil from the seeds of borage plant. Borage seed oil contains about 20 to 30 % GLA.
4. Bromelain: Group of enzymes found in pineapple that break down protein. Decreases pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and increases mobility.